Faithfulness and Love

Author Archives: Andrew Kooi

Monday of the 1st Week of Lent

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The way we live our lives would give us a glimpse of what would happen to us ultimately when we die. Until then, we are given lots of opportunities to repent and change our lives. Are we taking such opportunities to grow closer to God and love our neighbour impartially?

Today’s Gospel presents us with two final options: eternal life or eternal punishment. Most of us would want eternal life, but are we loving God and neighbour consistently and continuously that would lead us to eternal life? There are so many obstacles along the way, and a more challenging obstacle which we face is loving our neighbour, since we can see our neighbour daily. Loving our neighbour is indeed not an easy thing, as there are many aspects of loving our neighbour which we may have neglected. Today’s Gospel gives us some examples of loving our neighbour: “I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.” We may have neglected to love our neighbour in some of these examples, and if we realise this, what are we doing about it? How can we say we love God, if we pick and choose how and whom we love? God is loving to all, regardless of who they are and what they have done. Are we doing the same?

1st Sunday of Lent Year A

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When we do something wrong or make a mistake, how many of us are willing to admit it? Some of us may try to sweep it under the carpet and hope that no one would discover what we have done. Some would start putting the blame on others and try to find a scapegoat to take the blame for us. How many of us are honestly and readily willing to say we are sorry and move on?

In today’s readings, we are reminded that Adam and Eve sinned because they did not want to admit their wrong doing. Adam blamed Eve for causing him to eat the forbidden fruit. Eve blamed the serpent for tempting her into eating the fruit. It is a continuous vicious circle. You blame me, I blame you, and in the end, we may end up fighting more and more over the most trivial things, just to ensure that we appear to look good. This attitude smacks of pride and arrogance, where we refuse to acknowledge our weaknesses and be compassionate about the weaknesses of others.

Today’s Gospel paints us another picture. Jesus was able to overcome temptation from the devil. Some may say: “But He is God! Surely as God, He is beyond temptation!” However, we should not forget that Jesus is also human. As human, He could be tempted. The forms of temptation which the devil used on Jesus are dissatisfaction, pride and disobedience. But He knew that what the devil was offering Him were merely lies. When we are dissatisfied, we begin to think that God is not giving us our needs. Pride causes us to think that we are greater and more important, and our heads begin to swell. Disobedience is caused when we bow down to the Devil instead of God, and we could do so when we treat other things and objects as gods.

Jesus refused to give in to these temptations because He knew that He was God’s beloved. We too are God’s beloved. We are precious in God’s eyes. We do not need to prove ourselves to God or to anyone. God can and will provide for us. Are we willing to be humble and patient, letting God care for us and give us what we need according to His wisdom? Or are we going to continue doing things our own way? Sometimes, when we demand too much our rights, nothing will be left.

Friday after Ash Wednesday

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How do you fast? Some people eat less, some avoid certain types of food or drink for a period of time, some do not eat anything for a period of time. But can you tell whether a person is fasting? For some, fasting is a real pain and they put on a “sour face” or “monkey face” to show that they are fasting. Some look listless or seem to have no energy while fasting. How many of us fast cheerfully and discreetly?

Today’s reading tells us about the type of fasting the Lord expects of us: “to break unjust fetters and undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke, to share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor, to clothe the man you see to be naked and not turn from your own kin?” If we fast to put on a show, then what is the point of fasting? Also, if we fast but treat others badly, how different are we compared to others? Let us learn to fast happily and with compassion towards others, so that “your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over. Your integrity will go before you and the glory of the Lord behind you.”

Thursday after Ash Wednesday

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All of us are given choices in life. We can choose good things, or we can choose bad things. It may seem strange that a person would want to choose bad things, but some people have resorted to choosing bad things due to one reason or another. For example, a person who is addicted to alcohol may choose to buy alcoholic drinks, even though that the person is aware that too much of such alcoholic drinks is detrimental to one’s health. However, the urge to have a drink is great and it would require much willpower and help from others to overcome such addiction.

The same principle can also applied to today’s reading. We are given a choice in today’s reading to choose life or death. While it may seem strange for people to choose death, we can see examples of a culture of death in today’s world, where people are willing to commit abortion or use contraception for one’s own convenience and personal gratification. This is where today’s reading is a stern reminder to us: choose life and you will live and increase; choose death and you will most certainly perish.

In our lives, are we continuously making a decision to choose life? Do we value and take seriously our eternal life, or are we only interested and focused in this life on earth? Let us choose carefully and not end up regretting later.

Ash Wednesday

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Today we begin the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. The imposition of ashes on our forehead reminds us that we are from dust and to dust we shall return. However, there is more to Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent which we can learn and reflect.

Often in our lives, we are busy with so many things. We are busy with our work, our family life, our social life, but how busy have we been with our relationship with God? Sometimes, in the midst of the hurry-burry, in the midst of the rat-race, we may have forgotten to take a good look at ourselves and see how we are progressing spiritually. The season of Lent is an opportunity to do just that.

During the season of Lent, we are encouraged to do more praying, fasting and alms-giving. These three major means of penance would not mean anything if they do not ultimately lead us to an inner conversion, a change of heart. Are we willing to take an honest look at ourselves and work towards a better relationship with God and with others? Are there areas in our life which we have been neglecting that we should address? Let us not confine our conversion to a better person only during Lent, but also continuously and consistently do so, for the betterment of our soul.

Tuesday of Week 8 Year 2

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For some of us, life tends to be encumbered with all sorts of thoughts. We think about our present situation and the situation of our family. Some think about the future and what is going to happen to their family and themselves. Others think about their financial situation, be it good or not. If we are not careful and become too engrossed with these thoughts, this could lead to all sorts of fear and anxiety.

Today’s reading reminds us “Free your minds, then, of encumbrances; control them, and put your trust in nothing but the grace that will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. Do not behave in the way that you liked to before you learnt the truth; make a habit of obedience: be holy in all you do, since it is the Holy One who has called you, and scripture says: Be holy, for I am holy.” If we say we trust in God, then we should not be thinking too much about these other things which can distract us from our relationship with God. We do need to do our part, but there are some things and some situations which we cannot be fully in control of. There is a song called “que sera sera, whatever will be will be.” Perhaps we should be more trusting to God, and let whatever will be will be.

Monday of Week 8 Year 2

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Some of us may be attached to certain things, way of life, people, habits, etc. We seem to be unable to let go of these attachments, since we may feel that these attachments belong to us and us alone. One form of attachment which people tend to fall into is wealth, be it money and/or property. A person could be so attached to wealth that sharing it or giving it away could pose a problem. Wealth becomes like a god to some, as they think that their happiness depends on what and how much they have.

When wealth becomes more important to us, then we may fall into the same trap as the rich man in today’s Gospel. Like the rich man, we may have forgotten what is more important to us. In another part of the Gospel, we are reminded that we cannot serve 2 masters, God and wealth. In today’s Gospel, the rich man may seem to have observed the commandments, but his heart is not attached to God, his heart is attached to the vast wealth he has. What about us? Have we become like the rich man, only concerned about our wealth, and forgotten or ignoring God? Can we bring our wealth with us when we die? Certainly not! But sometimes some of us only realise this when it is too late and we are about to leave this earth. Are we setting ourselves up for eternal happiness or otherwise?

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

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Some of us are worry-warts. We worry about our finances, our future, our children’s future, our health, our job, our retirement plans, what to eat, where to go for holiday, etc. Some people even worry that they have nothing to worry about.

Certainly, we need to do our part and work hard for our families and ourselves. But we should not become too concerned to the point where it becomes sinful, as we are eaten up by anxiety, fear, and despair. Today’s Gospel and readings are not telling us to become irresponsible and expect others to provide for us. Instead, we should note:

  1. Stop worrying. What can you gain from worrying and how would that improve our situation?
  2. God sees us as extremely valuable and precious.
  3. We are citizens of God’s Kingdom and we should “Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given you as well.”

God knows our needs and would grant them if we ask with persistence and with sincerity. Are we willing to let God guide us and help us?

Housekeeping – Week 7 Year 2

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For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:

23 February 2014 – 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
24 February 2014 – Monday of Week 7 Year 2
25 February 2014 – Tuesday of Week 7 Year 2
26 February 2014 – Wednesday of Week 7 Year 2
27 February 2014 – Thursday of Week 7 Year 2
28 February 2014 – Friday of Week 7 Year 2