Faithfulness and Love

Author Archives: Andrew Kooi

Sacred Heart of Jesus – 3

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Can you see love? Of course we cannot see love, so we use a common symbol to represent it, a heart. When we say someone has a heart of gold, it means that the person is selfless and loving. When we have a heart-to-heart talk with a friend, we are expressing our deepest care and concern towards  someone we love. When we say, “have a heart,” we are asking someone to be more considerate or caring. The heart can also be understood in various ways. Scientifically and medically speaking, it is a vital organ. If the heart stops completely, we die, simple as that. Psychologically speaking, the heart is seen as the center of emotions and feelings. Morally speaking, the heart is the seat of good or evil, because out of the heart flows our words and actions that tell us whether what is being said or done is good or bad.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Sacred Heart of Jesus that we see on pictures is a symbol reminding us of God’s divine love, the greatest love of all. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is aflame with love, radiant with love, wounded with love for each and every one of us. The image of the Heart of Jesus focuses on the self-sacrificing of Jesus Christ for us. It is this image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which reminds us that Jesus is our shepherd, who is constantly calling out to us, sinners, to return to Him.

Today’s Gospel tells us that when sinners return to Jesus, “there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of repentance.” The Sacred Heart of Jesus is beckoning us to “have a heart” and come back to Jesus, so that we will live. May we strive to be closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and let Jesus’ heart heal us, and transform us, so that in all we say and do, we will glorify God.

Thursday of Week 9 Year 2

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Life is such that we will face trials and challenges from time to time, and sometimes such challenges and trials could test our faith. When we are tested, we could respond in different ways: some of us would take the challenge and do our best in overcoming such tests; some of us would just sit and do nothing, thinking that such challenges will eventually go away and not bother us; or some of us could even give up and be overwhelmed by such challenges, even to the point of losing our faith. If you are in such a situation where you are facing a great challenge, how would you respond?

In today’s reading, we are reminded: “Do all you can to present yourself in front of God as a man who has come through his trials, and a man who has no cause to be ashamed of his life’s work and has kept a straight course with the message of the truth.” The reading cautions us that we are to do all we can; not just sit idle; or give up. Are we taking on such challenges for the glory of God? Or have we become too complacent and forgotten our identity and mission as Christians?

Wednesday of Week 9 Year 2

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God has called and chosen each and every one of us to be His witnesses and to proclaim the Gospel as best we can. Each of us are different, and how much or little we are able to do in proclaiming the Gospel is not important. What is important is we do our part, no matter how big or small that part may be. Some of us may be able to travel a lot to preach the Good News; some of us may not be able to do so due to some reason or another but can still offer prayers for others. But in all our efforts, our goal is to preach the Good News according to our ability and situation, with gusto and with power, love and self-control.

In today’s reading, we are reminded: “That is why I am reminding you now to fan into a flame the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God’s gift was not a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power, and love, and self-control. So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord…” If we believe strongly in our faith, then why are some of us feeling small, timid or scared to preach the Good News? Sometimes we do not even have to say so many words, since even our attitude, behaviour and actions can be a form of preaching. May we take heed of what today’s reading is telling us, and do our duty in preaching the Good News to all, so that all may know what it means to be a Christian.

Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Feast

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It is tempting for us to take complete credit when we receive praises for a task well done, or when we have accomplised something. After all, we worked hard and made much effort to ensure that the task was not only done properly, we also made sure that the task was completed according to the highest standards. But how many of us are humble and willing to also give credit to God for what we have done, instead of raking all the praises or admiration only to ourselves?

In today’s Gospel, Elizabeth had plenty of praises for Mary, for it was Jesus in Mary’s womb that caused Elizabeth to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Mary could have basked in the glory of listening to such praises from Elizabeth, but she did not do such a thing. Instead, she gave praise to God, saying: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my saviour; because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.” Mary acknowledged that the glory belongs to God, not to herself.

What about us? Are we willing to learn from Mary’s example and give glory to God for all we do? After all, the inspiration that we received to accomplish the task could be through God’s help, and we should be grateful to God for His providence and bounty. May we never grow so proud that we can do without God, and like Mary, give God the greater glory.

Monday of Week 9 Year 2

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Christian faith in itself is meaningless if we do not show our faith. Christian faith is not something which we keep only to ourselves, or hide it in a closet, or sweep it under a rug. Christian faith must be shown, witnessed and lived, so that others would come to know what it really means to be a Christian, not by mere words, but by the example of our attitude, behaviour, conduct and our lives. So how do we show our faith? What do we need to do as Christians?

Today’s reading gives us some ideas: “…you will have to do your utmost yourselves, adding goodness to the faith that you have, understanding to your goodness, self-control to your understanding, patience to your self-control, true devotion to your patience, kindness towards your fellow men to your devotion, and, to this kindness, love.” If we say that we have faith, then we must show our goodness, our understanding, our self-control, our patience, true devotion, our kindness towards others, and ultimately, genuine love. Sounds like quite a lot is expected of us, isn’t it? Well, nobody said that being a Christian is going to be easy, but let us be joyful and glad, since the benefits are out of this world.

Corpus Christi

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Words are easy and cheap. People can say anything and everything under the sun or moon, but what they say would be mere words, if there is no action. For example, a person can say: “I love you.” But does the person really mean what he or she says? After all, we hear the words “I love you” in so many places, such as in advertisements, on TV, in the cinemas, that the words seem to lose their meaning or significance. That is why, for many of us, we do not only want to hear such words, we want proof of action. Only through action can we come to believe or be convinced that someone really loves us.

Today we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi. Today we remember Jesus’ promise that He loves us. His promise is not merely words, but is shown in His action. Jesus proves His love for us by giving us His own body and blood, by sacrificing his own life for us to save us from our sins. Every time we come to receive the body of Jesus at Mass; every time we come to adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, we are acting out our belief that we are important, we are special, we are loved by God.

But sometimes, some of us may have taken for granted God’s tremendous love for us. Some of us may have not prepared well for Mass, by going for confession, by observing the one hour fast prior to receiving Holy Communion, by spending time in prayer and reflection, by dressing in our Sunday best. Some of us just come to church and receive Holy Communion just like that, without ensuring that we are clean and well prepared, both physically and spiritually. If we go to meet a king or royalty or some VIP (Very Important Person) for an official dinner or an official function, surely we would prepare ourselves to make a good impression and to show that we have good manners and proper upbringing. What about Mass then? Do we do the same?

Today, let us be thankful and grateful that God loves us so much. God loved the world so much that He gave us His only Son so that all who believe in Him may have eternal life. Jesus loves us so much that He offers us His Body and Blood, each and every time we receive Holy Communion at Mass. May we show our love, by being well prepared, and by being genuine in our love towards others.

Friday of Week 8 Year 2

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Each and every one of us are unique. No two of us are exactly the same, even though we may appear to look alike, especially if we are twins. God has given each and every one of us different gifts, different talents, different capabilities. But what do we do with such gifts, talents or capabilities? Some of us may begin to think that we are great and we use our gifts, talents or capabilities to show off and to boost our ego, pride and to gain fame and popularity. Some of us even use our gifts, talents or capabilities to lord it over others, belittle others or put other people down, because we think that they are not able to measure up to us. But what sort of attitude and behaviour should a Christian have towards such gifts, talents or capabilities?

In today’s reading, we are reminded: “Each one of you has received a special grace, so, like good stewards responsible for all these different graces of God, put yourselves at the service of others. If you are a speaker, speak in words which seem to come from God; if you are a helper, help as though every action was done at God’s orders; so that in everything God may receive the glory, through Jesus Christ, since to him alone belong all glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.” Ultimately, our gifts, talents or capabilities are meant to serve others with humility and sincerity, and to glorify God. Are using our gifts, talents or capabilities for our own glory? Or are we using them for the greater glory of God?

Thursday of Week 8 Year 2

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Each and every day, we are surrounded with choices. Sometimes we make good choices, sometimes we make bad ones. When we make bad choices, what happens? Just as a stain can slowly ruin a shirt or pants, a stain of sin as a result of bad choices can slowly ruin our soul. When our soul is stained, what do we do? Ideally, we should go for confession as soon as possible. Surely we would not want a stain to remain on our soul for too long, just like we would quickly get the stain removed from our clothing. But the reality is, some of us seem to think that we have plenty of time to remove the stains of sin from our soul. Some of us seem to drag our feet, procrastinate, or put off going to confession. Some even go only once or twice a year. Are we forgetting the possible consequence of letting the stains of sin remain?

In today’s reading, we are cautioned: “I urge you, my dear people, while you are visitors and pilgrims to keep yourselves free from the selfish passions that attack the soul.: When our soul is stained, we are causing ourselves to drift further away from God. We begin to think that we are self-sufficient, and that we can get by and prosper in this world. Perhaps we may be able to survive in this world for a while, but what is going to happen to us when we leave this world? Are we going to lose our lives in the afterlife, because of our neglect? May we come to realise that we are merely visitors and pilgrims on earth. Earth is not our permanent home, so let us make more effort to prepare for our permanent home. Where our permanent home may be, is up to us to decide.

Wednesday of Week 8 Year 2

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Some people say they love, but their attitude and actions seem to say otherwise. We have come across people who say they love, but there is a reason why they love. For example, some people love another because the other person is smart, or handsome, or beautiful, or wealthy, or influential, or for some other reason. Some people love because they can get some sort of benefit or advantage in return. But how many of us can truly say we love without condition, without pretense?

In today’s reading, we are reminded: “You have been obedient to the truth and purified your souls until you can love like brothers, in sincerity; let your love for each other be real and from the heart…” As Christians, we have experienced God’s love. God loves us so much that He even sent His Son, Jesus, to guide us and save us from our sins. May we be humble and willing to love genuinely, just like God loves us each and every one unconditionally and sincerely.

Tuesday of Week 8 Year 2

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Our minds can sometimes be so filled with thoughts of different kinds, that we become preoccupied with finding solutions to some of such thoughts. Sometimes we think too much, and stress ourselves out with so much anxiety, fear and worry. Our focus seem to lean more and more towards matters here on earth, that we forget that there is more to life than such earthly issues. As Christians, what should we do?

In today’s reading, we are told: “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.” When we put our trust in God and depend on His providence, there is nothing for us to worry or fear. There is a song by Don Moen titled: “God Will Make A Way.” Indeed, God will make a way for us, even though we think that there seems to be no way. All we need to do is let Him be in control, and God’s Grace is sufficient for us. He will take care of things, so let us do our best and lead good Christian lives, and let God do the rest.