For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
13 January 2014 – Monday of Week 1 Year 2
14 January 2014 – Tuesday of Week 1 Year 2
15 January 2014 – Wednesday of Week 1 Year 2
16 January 2014 – Thursday of Week 1 Year 2
17 January 2014 – Friday of Week 1 Year 2
As leaders of different ministries in church, some of us may begin to think that the ministry we are in or even the church we serve would collapse if we are not around. Some people think that it is their God-given right to be the leader of a particular ministry. Some even think that their point of view and ideas are the only ones which should be noted.
However, today’s Gospel shows us a different attitude towards ministry. John the Baptist pointed out Jesus to his own disciples, saying: “Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.” By doing so, John revealed his humility as he knew who he was and he was willing to step aside and let Jesus take over. Humility is not putting oneself down, but knowing one’s purpose and knowing when to lead and when to let go and move on.
As we reach a certain stage in life, we should follow the example of John the Baptist. There comes a time when we are no longer spring chicken and can no longer do certain things. Our purpose is to be witnesses for Christ. We need to point others to Jesus and not draw attention to ourselves. We should not treat our being in ministry as a popularity contest. Humility means knowing our identity and mission, and knowing how to help others grow and eventually take over. We must remember that we are not the Master, but merely servants. We are apostles and not the Saviour. Let us be humble and gracious enough to do our part, so that God’s Kingdom, not ours, will grow and prosper.
“Be careful what you wish for” is an English idiom which warns us that if you get things that you desire, there may be unforeseen and unpleasant consequences. In the case of today’s reading, this idiom is clearly relevant.
The Israelites were not happy and not content with Samuel leading them, and as a result were not happy to be ruled by God. They wanted an earthly king, despite the fact that they had God, a much more powerful and dependable king. Samuel was not happy with their request and even warned them of the consequences of seeking an earthly king, but they just did not want to listen. The Israelites still wanted an earthly king. So Samuel, with the permission of God, gave them a king. The rest, as we know it, is history. Time and again we see how many of the Israelite kings failed in their responsibilities and brought grief to the nation, even leading them into exile.
What about us? Are we letting ourselves be ruled by an earthly king? Or have we learnt to depend on our eternal king? Are we still stubborn in thinking that our earthly kings can really help us grow and prosper? Or are we willing to humbly walk in the presence of our eternal king, who we can depend on in this world and in the next? Indeed, “be careful what you wish for,” for sometimes what we want may not necessarily be good for us.
Sometimes we ask God for things, and when we don’t get what we want, we begin to try to bargain with God. Some of us may even resort to other forms of help, including bomohs, feng shui, divinations, seances, etc, hoping that we would still get what we want. Some of us may get angry and upset that God seems mean or stingy, not wanting to help us. However, the point is this: are we trying to control God? Must God grant our desires at all times? Because if we expect God to do our bidding, then we become a god. We become more powerful than God.
Today’s reading shows us that Israel tried to force God to help them win their battles against the Philistines. They brought the ark of God to their camp, thinking that God will have no choice but to protect them and help them. However, as we see at the end of the reading, God will not kow tow to their bidding. God helps them according to His terms, not according to their demands. Even if the ark is captured at that point of time, God is not perturbed. What about us? Are there times we have been guilty in trying to make God answer our prayers? Have we forgotten who we are? Let us take heed and let God be God, fully trusting that He loves us and knows what is best for us.
Are you being called by God to a particular way of life? Some of us may be called to married life, some to religious life, others to the priesthood. How do we know that we are being called? Today’s reading shows us one way that God may call us. Here, God called Samuel 3 times. At first, Eli did not have a clue who was calling the boy Samuel, and Samuel himself too did not have a clue, for “Samuel had as yet no knowledge of the Lord and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.” It was only at the third time that “Eli then understood that it was the Lord who was calling the boy.”
God may be calling us to a particular way of life, just as He called Samuel. Have we discovered which way of life is God calling us to? Have we spoken to others who may be able to advise us? Are we ready to respond, like Samuel: “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.” In this world with so many distractions and attractions, it may be difficult to hear the voice of God calling us. Let us open our hearts and listen earnestly, that we may discover His call.
Exorcisms should not be taken lightly. We sometimes hear people claiming to be able to cast out evil spirits, but they may not necessarily be ready or able to do so. One needs to have a certain “authority” to be able to perform exorcisms. Sometimes, what we think is a manifestation of an evil spirit may not necessarily be the case. Evil exists, but we should not jump into conclusions whether a person is truly possessed or not. One needs to verify genuine cases from merely psychological or medical-based ones, and also one needs to be fully and properly prepared physically and especially spiritually, before any exorcism is attempted. In other words, one should not play play with such matters as it could mean a matter of life or death.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus not only taught with authority, but he also had authority over unclean spirits. If we are to be genuine and with “authority” to perform exorcisms, then we should follow Jesus example closely and ensure that we are physically and spiritually ready at all times for any situation. Being God’s instrument in casting out evil spirits is not a simple matter. Are we honest and humble enough to trust the Lord and be prepared to face any consequences? Are we performing such exorcisms for the glory of God? Let us examine ourselves carefully and not be blinded with personal intentions or personal gratification.
In certain societies, a woman may be showered with lots of affection and gifts from her husband, but if she is unable to bear him a child, she may be looked down upon or ridiculed. Even though her husband may not be bothered about her condition and love her nonetheless, the ill-treatment by others around her can be quite demeaning and painful to bear. Hannah in today’s reading was facing such a situation. Some other women may have despaired due to their situation, but Hannah chose to cry out to the Lord and the Lord was mindful of her, and she conceived and gave birth to a son.
Sometimes in our lives, we too may face difficult situations similar to what Hannah faced. Are we able to continue to hold our heads up high and depend on the Lord’s mercy and providence, knowing that the Lord would provide for us in His time, just as He provided for Hannah? Perhaps our prayer may not be answered quickly or in the manner we expect, but let us persevere and not lose heart, knowing that God would be mindful of us and help us.
Why was Jesus baptised if He had never sinned? Jesus never sinned and did not need baptism for the forgiveness of sin. However, Jesus chose to be baptised to unite himself and share fully in the expectations and hopes of all men and women. It is not humankind that goes to Him, but He goes towards humankind for whom He came to redeem from sin.
Jesus’ baptism also became the starting point of his ministry. His ministry was affirmed when “the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice spoke from heaven, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.'” This shows that Jesus had a close relationship with God and we too should follow Jesus’ example by maintaining a close relationship with God, and by always doing what is right for the glory of God.
When we were baptised, we died to our old sinful ways and began a new life in Jesus. Have we truly understood the significance of our own baptism? Have our lives changed and have we been faithful in our ministry and giving glory to God? Let us not neglect our responsibilities and remain faithful in doing the will of God.
Some of us would have been in active ministry for quite a while. Throughout our ministry, we would have experienced joy, sadness, challenges, difficulties, etc. If we are to continuously work and do things for others, there may come a time where we may feel tired, fed up, or burned out. This is where we ought to follow Jesus’ example. In today’s Gospel: “His reputation continued to grow, and large crowds would gather to hear him and to have their sickness cured, but he would always go off to some place where he could be alone and pray.”
Notice that Jesus wasn’t working or doing things all the time. He would always go off to some place where he could be alone and pray. This shows us that we need to take time off for rest, reflection and recreation. Let us not overdo things, but take opportunities to spend time with the Lord in silence and prayer, while recharging our “batteries” as well.
For many of us, loving God seems easy. We do not actually see Him, we do not feel Him directly, and we experience His continuous care in one form or another, without us even having to ask at times. However, when it comes to loving our neighbour, that becomes a great hurdle for some. Our neighbour could be our spouse, children, parents, in-laws, out-laws, friends, associates, acquaintances, un-friends, enemies, etc. We may find it easy to love those who love us, but loving those who hurt us, belittle us, irritate us, anger us, betray us; that seems a tough thing to do.
Today’s reading reminds us that: “Anyone who says, ‘I love God’, and hates his brother, is a liar, since a man who does not love the brother that he can see cannot love God, whom he has never seen. So this is the commandment that he has given us, that anyone who loves God must also love his brother.” Are we selective in our love towards others? Or do we genuinely love all, regardless of how they treat us? Loving indeed is not easy, but we should remember that God loved all and sent His Son to save all. Are we willing to follow Jesus’ way in loving all?
