Faithfulness and Love

Author Archives: Andrew Kooi

18 December – Season of Advent

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If you are engaged to a person and you found out that she is with child, how would you respond? Some might walk away from the relationship. Others might decide to remain faithful and committed to the person despite of the situation she is in. What about you?

In today’s Gospel, we see Joseph finding himself in a difficult and possibly dangerous situation. He was betrothed (something like being engaged in modern times) to Mary, but until they were properly married according to Jewish law, sex was not allowed and was considered adultery. A woman found pregnant during the betrothal could be stoned to death. Because of this, Joseph “being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally.” However, when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, “he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home.”

Joseph knew that the child would not be biologically his, he knew there would be difficulties and challenges ahead, he knew Mary and he could be a source of gossip; and yet he was docile and humble enough to trust in the Lord. Would we be able to follow Joseph’s example and do the same if we were in a similar situation?

17 December – Season of Advent

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Family trees. Each and every one of us has a family tree. Some of us have managed to trace our family tree right to the earliest times. Some have only been partially successful. But one thing we may discover about our family tree is this: our ancestors were a mixed bag of good and not so good people. Each of our ancestors (nenek-moyang, as some like to say in Bahasa Malaysia) had their strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes, when we look at our family tree, we begin to realise and appreciate those who had paved the way to who and what we are today.

Today’s Gospel introduces us to Jesus’ family tree. This family tree is divided into 3 lists of 14: 14 patriarchs; 14 kings; and 14 generations from the Babylonian captivity to Jesus. Within each list, there were good and bad persons, showing us that God does not choose those who are the best from the human point of view, but from God’s point of view.

We can also see that 4 women are included, 3 of whom are named: Tamar, Rahab and Ruth. Bathsheba is not named but mentioned as “Uriah’s wife.” These 4 women were Gentiles either by birth or through marriage. Tamar, Rahab and Ruth were Gentiles by birth. Bathsheba, an Israelite, became Gentile through her marriage to Uriah, the Hittite. This shows that Jesus had Gentile as well as Jewish ancestors.

When we see Jesus’ family tree, we begin to realise and appreciate God’s plan of salvation for all of us. Regardless of whether we are Jew or Gentile, saint or sinner; God can write straight with crooked lines and some of those crooked lines are our lives. As long as we are open to His pruning and guidance, we can be a part of God’s plan. Let us then rise, and walk in His ways.

Monday of the 3rd Week of Advent

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“Jangan cari pasal,” is a Bahasa Malaysia phrase which is translated as “Don’t look for trouble.” In today’s Gospel, we see the chief priests and the elders of the people trying to “cari pasal” with Jesus, hoping to find some excuse to trap Him. They challenged Him by asking: “What authority have you for acting like this? And who gave you this authority?” They knew who Jesus was but refused to admit and acknowledge Him. When Jesus questioned them back, they themselves fell into the very trap which they had tried to set on Jesus.

In our lives, we too may be guilty of trying to “cari pasal” with others, especially when we think we are smarter, better qualified, or better off than they are. We think we can put other people down or belittle them and get away with it. But, as Jesus has shown us, sometimes we may just end up eating humble pie or we may end up making a fool of ourselves. Are we allowing our ego to swell and take control of our lives? Or are we willing to walk humbly in God’s presence?

3rd Sunday of Advent Year A

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We live in a world where everything must be done fast. We have ATMs for instant cash, we have credit cards for instant credit, we have instant coffee, instant noodles, instant this, instant that. But there are also many situations where we need to wait, to be patient. For example, babies are not conceived and born in a day or a week. It takes about 9 months of waiting and preparing. Nobody gets a degree after only one class. Most people need to study 2 or 3 years for a basic degree. Building a house cannot be completed too quickly. We need to ensure that a strong and secure foundation has been established before the building can commence. When we eat, we cannot shove everything into our mouth and swallow at one go. We may choke or get indigestion as a result.

Even waiting for the Lord’s coming requires us to be patient. In the first reading, we are told: “Look, your God is coming, vengeance is coming, the retribution of God; he is coming to save you.” When is the Lord coming to save us? We do not know. So we need to be patient. In the second reading, we are
reminded: “Be patient, brothers, until the Lord’s coming… You too have to be patient; do not lose heart, because the Lord’s coming will be soon.” Here, we should be patient and not lose heart. The Gospel today also echos our need to be patient and not lose heart, as Jesus tells us: “happy is the man who does not lose faith in me.”

Seeing that we need to be patient and not lose heart, let us make a choice. We could choose to trust God, or we could choose to do things our way. Whatever choice we may wish make, we must be prepared to face the consequences.

Housekeeping – 2nd Week of Advent

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

8 December 2013 – 2nd Sunday of Advent Year A
9 December 2013 – The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Solemnity
10 December 2013 – Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Advent
11 December 2013 – Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Advent
12 December 2013 – Thursday of the 2nd Week of Advent
13 December 2013 – Friday of the 2nd Week of Advent

Friday of the 2nd Week of Advent

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Following God’s commandments is not that difficult or complicated. It is when we are stubborn, rebellious, wanting our way, proud or have big egos that we begin to think we can do whatever we like. We sometimes see such attitude in society today. Some of those who are rich and powerful begin to think that they are superior and they think they can get away with anything. What about us? Are we becoming more self-centered and refusing to listen and obey God’s commandments? Do we think we can run away from right conduct and responsibility? In Bahasa Malaysia, there is a saying: “Sepandai-pandai tupai melompat, akhirnya jatuh ke tanah juga.” Roughly translated into English: “No matter how clever a squirrel jumps or hops, it will eventually fall onto the ground.” What we do or failed to do will eventually emerge in some form some day. We cannot continuously hide skeletons in a closet forever. Are we humble enough to change and let God take control?

Today’s reading tells us: “I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is good for you, I lead you in the way that you must go. If only you had been alert to my commandments, your happiness would have been like a river, your integrity like the waves of the sea.” God is beckoning us to let Him teach us and lead us. Are we willing to open our hearts and minds and let him do so? Or are we still resistant and refusing to change? Life is short and unpredictable. Let us not waste the opportunities given to us to grow and dwell in God’s embrace.

Thursday of the 2nd Week of Advent

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As children, some of us often need reassurance from our parents that they love us. At times, they may find it difficult to say so, but they express their love in other ways. Even as adults, we need reassurance from our family, our spouse that they love us. In our relationship with God, there are times we seek reassurance from God that He loves us and is there for us. We may not see God face to face, but we see many signs of His love and care around us.

Today’s reading reinforces God’s reassuring love and care. We read: “I, the Lord, your God, I am holding you by the right hand; I tell you, ‘Do not be afraid, I will help you.” What more reassurance do we need from God? He is holding us, he will help us. Why are some of us still skeptical or not trusting? Do we doubt that God can and will help us? Or have we become so impatient, expecting God to help us right away, not according to His time?

Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Advent

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In life, we sometimes are laden with heavy burdens. At times, we may feel as if our burdens are too difficult to bear and some may give up and despair. However, in today’s Gospel, we are reassured by Jesus who invites us to “Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.”

With Jesus inviting us to shoulder his yoke and learn from Him, we no longer need to fear or worry, as Jesus is helping us along the way. However, are we willing to let Him guide us? Or are we still adamant that we go our own way?

Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Advent

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From time to time, we may have to strayed away from God. We may have thought we can go on on our own, and sometimes we end up getting into trouble. However, today’s Gospel reassures us that God is constantly on the lookout and He is willing to “go in search of the stray.” It is never God’s will “that one of these little ones should be lost.”

In the same way, just as God is always looking out for us so that we will not be lost, are we doing the same towards others around us? Sometimes we may be tempted to just wash our hands and give up on certain people, but let us be reminded that we should learn from our loving God and follow His example, leading and guiding others back to Him. However, God does not force us to go back to Him. We have a choice: to be found and guided back to Him, or to remain lost. It is all up to us. Let us pray that we will choose wisely for our eternal future.

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Solemnity

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Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In today’s readings, we see the response of Adam who disobeyed and hid in fear and shame. On the other hand we see Mary who responds as a disciple and said “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me.”

Mary trusted God totally even though she could have doubted and feared the consequences of saying yes to God. Despite the dangers and challenges she would face, she still said yes. She was the faithful disciple, the first to believe in Jesus, the first to receive him and give flesh to His body.

Mary said yes to the angel, yes to a life she never expected, yes to the sword that would pierce her heart, yes to the cross, yes to the unknown future ahead of her and always yes to her Son. God is always seeking us out, to love us, to care for us. When God calls us as he called Adam “Where are you”? How do we respond? Do we respond like Adam, embarrassed by our sins and hiding in fear, hoping that God will eventually leave us alone and let us be, or do we respond like Mary did, saying  “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me.”

Let us look toward Mary as our model of discipleship, and reflect on our own response to God’s call. Have we been selective in our response, picking and choosing only that which suits us? Or have we been striving hard to be like our Heavenly Mother, Mary, who gave her all, inspiring us to also give our all for the greater glory of God?