Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: 13th

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

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Many of us call ourselves Christians and do our best to live good and devout lives. We make effort to go to church as often as possible, some even daily. However, let us consider for a moment: if Jesus were to come to you and ask you to “Come, follow me,” what would your answer be? Would you say “yes” immediately, or would you start thinking of all the things you need to settle before following Jesus, or make all sorts of excuses instead?

Today’s gospel gives us a very clear picture of what is required of us to be Jesus’ disciples. In a nutshell, we must be prepared to give up all things that we value in order to follow Jesus. In the Gospel, we see three different situations. Firstly, Jesus reminds us that although all other creatures may have a home, the Son of Man himself has no permanent home. This means that a disciple needs to give up all forms of security such as a good job, a good family, or even a good education, to follow Jesus. The second man was unable to follow Jesus immediately because he needed to fulfil his filial obligation to bury his father. Yet even this, according to Jesus, does not take precedence over the call to follow Jesus. Finally, the third man is reminded that if one is to follow Jesus, there is no turning back: “once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” These three situations are examples of the high cost of discipleship. However, Jesus is not asking us to be not filial or to discard our obligations to our parents and elders, since service to God should never be used as an excuse to escape from one’s obligations to one’s parents. But what the Gospel is telling us is that one must be prepared to die to one’s personal needs, likes and dislikes, and even agenda to follow Jesus.

The first reading tells us of Elisha, who answered the call of Elijah, and slaughtered the oxen and burned the plough. What Elisha was doing is that he is giving up everything: he is abandoning his life as a farmer to be a prophet and follow Elijah. This is a sign of firm commitment. Are we willing to make a firm commitment like Elisha did, to follow Jesus? Remember that once we have truly and sincerely decided to follow Jesus, there is no turning back. Are we willing to sacrifice everything for Jesus, for the sake of the Kingdom of God?

Thursday of Week 13 Year 1

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Among the many sicknesses and diseases people are fearful of, one which ranks quite high is paralysis. When a person is paralysed, the person is unable to do anything on his or her own, and has to depend on family and friends for practically everything. The person’s freedom is non-existent, as his or her life or death is totally dependent on the love and generosity of others. Moreover, depending on the reason why a person had become a paralytic, there may be no cure and the person would have no choice but to live in paralysis till death.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus came to his own town. Then some people appeared, bringing Him a paralytic stretched out on a bed. Jesus was impressed with the faith of these people, who had confidence and trust that He would heal the paralytic, and that is exactly what He did. The man was able to get up on his own and went home. Jesus had given back the man his freedom.

Perhaps another form of paralysis should be seriously considered here, and that is the paralysing effects of sin. Sin paralyses us slowly, until we come to a point we are no longer able to care for ourselves. We may even become indifferent towards God and towards others, as the sins we have committed engulfs us in a poisonous cloud, and blocks all our senses, preventing us from hearing God’s voice. This is why we must never allow sin to continue to remain in our soul, since its stain would eventually ruin our relationship with God. Instead, we should make every effort to go for confession, and let God heal us and cleanse us from our sins. If we value our eternal future, let us not procrastinate or take things for granted, for our time here on earth is short, and God is constantly inviting and reminding to come back to Him.

Wednesday of Week 13 Year 1

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What does it mean to be possessed by an evil spirit? Some people think that a person behaving strangely or displaying weird antics is crazy or even possessed by an evil spirit. Some people think that they have the so-called power and authority to drive away such evil spirits from others. What these people often fail to realise is that not every person behaving strangely or displaying weird antics is necessarily possessed by some evil spirit, since sometimes the person could be suffering from some sickness or mental condition which could cause such behaviour. Also, if a person is suspected to be possessed, not just any Tom, Dick or Sally can attempt to drive the evil spirit out, since what we could be dealing with here is not just any ordinary thing. In other words, don’t play play when it comes to evil spirits.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus drove away devils from two demoniacs with little resistance. It is interesting to note that the devils actually pleaded with Jesus to be cast out into a herd of pigs instead of Jesus casting them out and sending them to a fate far worse. Jesus was merciful enough to grant them their request. Jesus is God and He can easily drive devils away. But for the rest of us, we should not straight away jump into conclusions that a person is possessed, since there are certain procedures to be followed and one should consult the bishop of the diocese to determine the next course of action. Casting out devils and evil spirits is not a task which anyone can do, since it requires extensive preparations, including much prayer and fasting. If we are not properly disposed, prepared and ready, it is best we refrain from attempting such things, since we ourselves could be possessed, or cause more complications to others and even to ourselves, or some could be quite badly injured, or even face the possibility of death. Ultimately, let us check our intentions. Are we casting out evil spirits to show how great we are, for our personal gratification, or to feed our ego? Or are we truly, humbly and cautiously doing so for the greater glory of God?

Tuesday of Week 13 Year 1

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If God were to ask you to do something, would you do it? Or would you find ways and means to try and avoid doing what God wants of you? Some of us say that we will do what God wants us to, but some may not be saying so wholeheartedly. Are we willing to do God’s will and have complete trust in Him, or have some of us doubted God and tried to look back or go back to our previous ways?

In today’s reading, the angels urged Lot: “Come, take your wife and these two daughters of yours, or you will be overwhelmed in the punishment of the town… Run for your life. Neither look behind you nor stop anywhere on the plain. Make for the hills if you would not be overwhelmed.” Lot managed to convince the angels to allow his family and he to escape to a town called Zoar. However, “the wife of Lot looked back, and was turned into a pillar of salt.” Why did she do so? The reading does not tell us specifically. Perhaps Lot’s wife had become too attached to her old life, and she looked back in regret for what she was losing. Perhaps she was curious and wanted to see whether everything would be totally destroyed. But whatever the reason may be, she had disobeyed God and suffered the consequences. As Jesus cautions us: “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulphur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.” (Luke 17:28-33).

What about us? When we were baptised, we were supposed to have died to our old selves and put on a new self, becoming children of God and maintaining a good relationship with Him. But some of us, perhaps, may have been tempted to “look back” or doubted whether God would really provide for us. Let us not be fooled into thinking that God does not care for us or has abandoned us. Rather, let us continue to trust Him, knowing that He knows what is best for us and will provide for us according to His time and for His glory.

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

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Before we begin a task or make a trip for a holiday, many of us like to plan ahead and make the necessary preparations and arrangements, so that the task could be completed successfully, or we would be able to reach our destination safely and enjoy the holiday without problems. We would scrutinise our options and some of us would go through the details over and over again, with the hope that whatever we have planned would be smooth sailing. Some of us would even come up with contingency plans should our original plan be ridden with sudden surprises or other issues which may crop up along the way. However, life is such that even the best plans we make could sometimes turn out quite differently than what we had expected. We may eventually get what we hope to achieve, or to where we want, but not quite the way we want.

In today’s Gospel, we read of how Jesus’ plans were diverted by two different individuals who were in need. In the Gospel, Jesus had crossed in the boat to the other side, and He was about to begin preaching, teaching and healing, when He was interrupted by Jairus, the synagogue official, who pleaded with him to see his daughter who was “desperately sick.” Before we go further, just imagine you were in Jesus’ shoes… How would you have responded, especially with the crowd waiting eagerly and expectantly for you? Some of us may have said: “I am a little tied up with these folks at the moment. Could I come later?” Perhaps some of us may have said: “Just look at this crowd! I can’t just leave them here. Maybe next time?” But did Jesus respond to Jairus in any of these ways? No. Instead, Jesus got up without hesitation and followed Jairus to his house.

Then, while Jesus was making his way to Jairus’ house, a woman who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years touched His cloak. Jesus was immediately aware that power had gone out from him, turned round in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ Of course, anyone could have touched Jesus as the crowd was so big and was pressing round Him, but Jesus continued to look all round to see who had done it. Once again Jesus was distracted from His plan to go to Jairus’ house, and was kind and gave encouragement to the woman, when she came forward to admit the truth. Before Jesus could make His way to Jairus’ house after sending the woman off in peace, news came from Jairus’ house that his daughter had died. Some of us may have thought that it is too late, and we may have said “why put the Master to any further trouble?” But as far as God is concerned, it is never too late. Jesus still went on, reached Jairus’ house, raised the girl from the dead and returned her to her family.

What do these stories mean to us? These stories tell us that God always has time for us. God is never too busy to hear and notice the prayers and plea of every single person even when everyone else does not seem to notice, or are not bothered, or are too busy or preoccupied with their own matters. God is not so inflexible that he does not make changes at times in order to help us and guide us.

What about us? Are we able and willing to follow God’s example and make ourselves available to others who need our time and our help? Or have we become so individualistic, calculative and selfish with our time, that our needs and wants take precedence over others? God gives life; not causes death. He is our comforter and healer; not the cause of our suffering and pain. May we too be life-giving and bring comfort and healing to others, as we grow in relationship with God and with our fellow pilgrims here on earth.

Friday of Week 13 Year 2

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When we go about in our daily efforts in proclaiming the Good News, who or what sort of group do we go for? Some of us may have become quite comfortable with reaching out to a certain group based on their income level, status, or place of residence. As a result, we may be less inclined to visit areas such as the slum areas, areas which we perceive to be bad or undesirable areas, or even areas which are occupied by squatters. Others may have become quite comfortable with reaching out to a certain language or ethnic group. This may be due to the fact that our language skills may not be so good.

However, today’s Gospel reminds us that Jesus did not come to call the virtuous but sinners. Jesus reminds us that what God wants is mercy, not sacrifice. Often we may offer sacrifice because we have the means to do so or we may be doing so for our own glory, our own gratification. But by being with tax collectors and sinners, the very persons which the Pharisees shunned, Jesus is showing us that we should follow His example and be loving and merciful to these types of people. They are the ones who need spiritual guidance and nourishment, instead of being despised or looked-down upon.

Are we guilty like the Pharisees in picking and choosing only those who seem ok or may later be beneficial to us? Have we forgotten our duty to preach the Good News to all?

Wednesday of Week 13 Year 2

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How many of us would want to commit evil? Quite likely we would want to do good. But sometimes we may be committing evil when we allow justice and integrity to be distorted or trampled on. We see justice and integrity being abandoned or misused, all for our personal gain or gratification. This is why today’s reading admonishes us: “I hate and despise your feasts, I take no pleasure in your solemn festivals. When you offer me holocausts, I reject your oblations, and refuse to look at your sacrifices of fattened cattle. Let me have no more of the din of your chanting, no more of your strumming on harps. But let justice flow like water, and integrity like an unfailing stream.”

We can put on a show or appear to be holy and participating in various religious events, but all this would not mean anything if justice and integrity is abandoned or forgotten. Let us be mindful and take care that justice and integrity is upheld in whatever we do.

Tuesday of Week 13 Year 2

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There are times we are in a difficult or dangerous situation or put in a spot. When we are faced with such situations, some of us may begin to worry, some may even begin to despair, thinking that all is lost. Some of us may be tempted to give up the faith, thinking that we could save our skin by doing so, especially when facing persecution or even the possibility of death.

However, today’s Gospel reassures us that Jesus is there to guide us and weather out the storm. We may face all sorts of storms in life, but are we willing to put our trust in Jesus and let Him help us? He admonished the disciples, and also admonishes us: “Why are you so frightened, you men of little faith?” Why are some of us still afraid? Don’t we trust in Jesus?

Monday of Week 13 Year 2

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One of the hardest things we need to do as Christians is the ability and willingness to let go. In this world, we are so used to having property or possessions, titles or positions, or even people who mean a lot to us or are close to us. If we are told by Jesus to let go of these things and people for the sake of the Gospel, would we be willing and humble enough to do so?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus challenges us to consider exactly that. He said: “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Jesus also said: “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their dead.” Would we be willing and able to be detached from what we have, even to the extent of being detached from family relationship, so that we would be free to follow Him and preach the Good News? It is certainly not an easy thing to do, but if Jesus calls us to leave everything behind and follow Him, how would we respond? Would we do so happily, sincerely and wholeheartedly?