Author Archives: Andrew Kooi

Sometimes when we pray and ask God for something, we may not necessarily get what we want so quickly. When this happens, how would we respond? Some would be patient and persistent in asking. Others may give up, thinking that we won’t get it anyhow.

Today’s Gospel shows us how the 2 blind men were patient and persistent by following Jesus as He went on His way. These 2 kept shouting, “Take pity on us, Son of David.” Due to their patience, persistence and faith, Jesus healed them and their sight returned. What about us? Are we willing to go the distance with persistence, patience and faith, knowing that the Lord will grant what is best for us?

Are we sensible people? Or are we stupid people? Some of us may take offence if someone would dare to ask us such questions. After all, would you dare to say such things to others? Surely not! However, this is precisely the gist of the Gospel today. Jesus Himself made this statement: “Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man… But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man…” Notice that Jesus is telling us that we should not just listen to His words, He also asserts that we need to act on them if we are sensible.

Therefore, we should ask ourselves honestly: are we really sensible people or not? For Jesus warned us: “It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.” Have we been doing God’s will, or our will?

There are times in life where we may feel as if no one is bothered about us, or people are too busy to notice us. This may cause some of us to feel unwanted, unloved, unappreciated and some may despair. However, today’s Gospel reminds us that we have an Eternal Shepherd who is loving to all of us and willing to cure the lame, the crippled, the blind, the dumb and many others. Even when the crowd had been with Him for 3 days, clinging and pondering on His words, He did not want to send them off hungry, for they might collapse on the way. This led to a miracle of the multiplication of seven loaves and fish.

Seeing how loving and concerned Jesus is towards all of us, we need to look at ourselves and ponder sincerely. Have we been loving and concerned towards others, following the example of Jesus? Have we learnt to be generous in our giving, just as we have received God’s generosity?

As adults, many of us try to take control of our lives and our destiny. We may also be less tolerant, less willing to be docile, less receptive to the promptings of God. Some of us may have inflated egos and find it difficult to forgive and receive forgiveness.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus said: “I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children.” When we allow God to care for us and guide us in our lives, we become like mere children, willing and able to learn from Him. It is when we think we know it all and we try to do things our way that we become deaf to God’s voice.

How many of us really trust in God’s providence? In today’s Gospel, we see the centurion coming to Jesus for help to heal his servant. What is interesting about this passage is that the centurion had faith and full trust and confidence in Jesus, to the point that he even said: “‘Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured.”

If we come before the Lord seeking His help, would we be able to have the same trust and confidence as the centurion did? Sometimes the help we seek may not necessarily happen immediately. Are we patient and hopeful, knowing that our loving God will grant what is best for us?