Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: 16th

Wednesday of Week 16 Year 1

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Every once in a while, we hear of people migrating from one place to another, because they have heard wonderful stories about the other place, and they think that they would benefit much from the other place. Some even migrate from one country to another, because they think that the other country would offer better opportunities for them. People migrate in this way because they think that “the grass is always greener on the other side.” But the reality is, the other side is not always as wonderful as it seems.

In today’s reading, the Israelites had their freedom from slavery in Egypt. But now out in the wilderness, they began to complain about hunger and the lack of food, and they were saying that slavery in Egypt was better than freedom in the wilderness.But is slavery really better? God brought the Israelites out from Egypt after they had endured much suffering and hardship, and now that the Israelites were free, they were still complaining about what they lacked. But despite how difficult, obstinate and stubborn the Israelites were, God did not give up on them. He gave them food even though they were ungrateful. Even though the Israelites still had much to learn about God’s love and generosity, God was patient with them.

What about us? Do we still think that “the grass is always greener on the other side.” May we not be so easily duped by what others say or what we read, because sometimes, the other side may not be so wonderful after all. Sometimes the other side may lead us to slavery, while we may have some or even much more freedom at where we are. May we come to discover how loving and patient God is to us, and let Him be our help and guide.

Monday of Week 16 Year 1

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A man was trapped on the roof of his house and all around there were flood waters. A helicopter came and beckoned the man to climb up the ladder into the helicopter to safety, but the man said: “I trust that God will give me a sign that He will rescue me. I shall wait for the sign.” The helicopter left, as it was dangerous to remain hovering in the area for too long. A speed boat came by and beckoned the man to hop onto the boat to safety, but the man said: “I trust that God will give me a sign that He will rescue me. I shall wait for the sign.” Eventually, the flood waters rose up to the roof and the man drowned. When the man appeared before God, he complained: “Lord! Why didn’t you give me a sign that you would rescue me?” God replied: “My dear son. I gave you 2 signs: the helicopter and the speed boat. Why didn’t you recognise the signs?”

In today’s Gospel, the scribes and Pharisees knew who Jesus was, but they were so stubborn and refused to admit who Jesus was, and still asked for a sign from Jesus. Jesus responded with harsh words: “It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign!” When we are stubborn, obstinate, proud, conceited and egoistic, no matter how many signs are given to us, we would still refuse to accept the signs. May we come to realise our attitude and behaviour, and change our ways while we have opportunities to do so.

Thursday of Week 16 Year 2

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We sometimes take for granted what God has done for us. We may have received many blessings and gifts from God, but how many of us are truly grateful or thankful to God for His providence? When times are good, some of us may even begin to think that all the blessings and gifts we received are from our own effort. But when times are bad, then only some of us may turn to God and beg for His help. Why do we behave in this way? Do we not realise where all our blessing and gifts are really coming from?

In today’s reading, the Israelites had become too full of themselves, even to the point of forgetting God. The reading tells us: “The priests have never asked, “Where is the Lord?”. Those who administer the Law have no knowledge of me. The shepherds have rebelled against me; the prophets have prophesied in the name of Baal, following the things with no power in them.” Even though the Lord had brought His people out of slavery into a fertile country to enjoy its produce and good things, they took it all for granted and even abandoned and rebelled against God who provided for them. Because of this, the Israelites eventually lost all these gifts and blessings, and ended up in exile.

In a way, we too could be in the same situation as the Israelites, if we take for granted God’s blessings and gifts. Let us never forget that what God has given is could be lost or taken away, and let us always be grateful and thankful for His generosity and bounty.

Wednesday of Week 16 Year 2

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The world that we live in today is full of different kinds of noise and attractions. People are being enticed with pleasure, fame, recognition, wealth, and many other things. This causes some nations to experience a drop in vocation, as fewer people are answering God’s call to the priesthood or religious life. When so many distractions persist, it is indeed difficult to listen and recognise God’s call. Sometimes, a person may have heard the call, but the person may feel inadequate or not worthy of answering the call.

This is where today’s reading assures us. In the reading, the prophet Jeremiah felt inadequate and said: “Ah, Lord; look, I do not know how to speak: I am a child!” But God assured him by responding: “Do not say, “I am a child.” Go now to those to whom I send you and, say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to protect you – it is the Lord who speaks!” When you have God as your help and guide, there is no reason to feel inadequate or fearful, since God will take care of things. We just need to trust Him and let Him be our providence and strength. If God is calling you today, don’t be afraid, since God does not call the qualified, but qualifies the called.

Tuesday of Week 16 Year 2

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Some of us seem to think that “blood is thicker than water.” What that means is family members are more important than others, and one should do all one can to bring happiness, peace and prosperity to one’s immediate family. But what sort of attitude should us Christians have towards family? Of course we are reminded to honour our parents, as stipulated in the ten commandments. But is that all, or is there more to family?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus shows us that there is more to family than what we think. To Jesus, being family means “Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.” This means that as Christians, being a member of God’s family means doing God’s will. The question is, are we really doing God’s will? Are we loving and serving others with humility, for the glory of God? May we remain as part of God’s family, and help others to do the same.

Monday of Week 16 Year 2

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We live in a world where more and more unjust deeds are being committed in different ways. For example, we see discrimination in different forms happening, where certain groups get certain privileges, just because they claim to be the original settlers of the land, but in actual fact they are not. In some situations, we see people loving for a reason, sometimes for selfish reasons or personal gain. Once they have gotten what they wanted, these people may not love the same way as before, or even run away to seek other ways to achieve their ambitions and goals. Also, we see some folks behaving as if they are the smartest, brightest, cleverest, or even richest. Some of such folks proudly flaunt their abilities and wealth, thinking that no one can measure up to them. Sometimes, such folks even put others down, to prevent others from becoming like them. Are some of us guilty of doing such deeds?

In today’s reading, we are reminded: “What is good has been explained to you, man; this is what the Lord asks of you: only this, to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God.” All our wealth and achievements are merely illusions, temporary things that come and go. But what matters most is whether we are in right relationship with God and with others, and whether we are prepared to meet the Lord. May we not be caught off-guard, and make more effort to grow closer to Him.

Housekeeping – Week 16 Year 2

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

17 July 2016 – 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
18 July 2016 – Monday of Week 16 Year 2
19 July 2016 – Tuesday of Week 16 Year 2
20 July 2016 – Wednesday of Week 16 Year 2
21 July 2016 – Thursday of Week 16 Year 2
22 July 2016 – St. Mary Magdalene, Memorial

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

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Some of us seem to have the urge to do lots of things in church. Some seem to have the need to be involved in many different ministries, and help out in many different projects and activities, thinking that without their help or involvement, the ministry, project or activity may collapse or be less successful. But is being Christian only about doing, doing and doing?

In today’s Gospel, we come across two sisters who had contrasting views about what doing and being is all about. Martha had been working very hard to make Jesus feel welcomed in her home. She’s the sort of person who cannot sit down and must always be working because there is always someone to take care of or some task to be completed. She’s doing her very best thinking that that her very best is what the Lord wants of her. But it’s not what Martha can do that matters. What really matters is what Jesus can do for her. And this is what Mary had allowed Jesus to do. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, which to some may seem to be useless and doing nothing. But she was actually allowing Jesus to be Jesus, as her Teacher, as her Guide, and as her Lord. Likewise, in the first reading, Abraham thought that he was extending hospitality to the three men, not knowing that God was in his midst. He thought that he was doing his guests a favour by being hospitable, but it would be his guest, God, who would be doing a favour for him. Abraham, who had been childless for so many years, would now have a child, a gift from God.

We sometimes forget that God invites us to participate in His work of salvation. Whatever our contribution, it is always still God’s work, not ours, and we should not be taking credit for all the people that we’ve helped, since God has chosen us as His instruments to help them. If we fail to recognise this, then we would be building our own kingdom rather than God’s kingdom. This is why St. Paul in the second reading can speak with such hope and joy, because he realises that he is only a servant of God, and merely one small piece in that whole plan of God for the salvation of mankind. Ultimately, Paul knew that all that he had been doing is for the glory of God.

What about us? Are we still focused in only doing things for God, without spending time being with Him and listening to His promptings? Are we doing things to show how great, clever, capable or important we are, or have we learnt to give God the glory for all that we do? Let us always remember that we are not the master but merely servants, and that we are building God’s kingdom, not our own.

Friday of Week 16 Year 1

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As children, we would have learnt about the ten commandments at some point of our lives at Religious Education or catechism classes. Our teachers may have come up with creative ways for us to try and remember the ten commandments by heart, and many of us would have been able to recite the ten commandments with ease after a while. But did we understand what we were reciting? Perhaps to some degree, but as we grew older, some of us may have begun to forget the ten commandments.

In today’s reading, we are reminded once again of the ten commandments. Jesus summarised the ten commandments to two: love God and love neighbour. For many of us, loving God seems easier as we do not need to deal with Him directly face to face. But Jesus has also reminded us that we cannot love God if we do not love our neighbour. Loving our neighbour is certainly not easy, especially since we often encounter difficult people, or people who have hurt us or have been hurt by us, or people who seem so unlovable. But if we consider and ponder for a while, Jesus came and died on the cross for all of us and to save us from our sins. That is why we need to be constantly reminded of how we should live our lives by observing faithfully the ten commandments, which is basically the law of love. Are we able to put aside our pride, ego, self-centredness and selfish ways, and love all, God and neighbour alike, the way God loves us all?

Thursday of Week 16 Year 1

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Every once in a while, we come across people who call themselves Christians, but they live lives quite contrary to a Christian way of life. Some of these people seem to think that being a Christian merely means accepting Christ as a personal saviour, but beyond that, how they behave, how they conduct themselves, how they treat others, is irrelevant to them. They claim that once they have accepted Christ as a personal saviour, they can do as they please and behave as they like. But is this what being a Christian all about? Is it so simple as that?

Being a Christian basically means we are following the ways of Christ. This means that we must love God and love neighbour, not just to put on a show, but with genuineness and integrity. But when people begin to interpret Christianity according to their own ways and for their own covenience, then perhaps they may be like what Jesus said in today’s Gospel concerning the prophecy of Isaiah: “You will listen and listen again, but not understand, see and see again, but not perceive. For the heart of this nation has grown coarse, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, for fear they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and be converted and be healed by me.” If we are so stubbornly holding on to our views, beliefs and understanding of what we think Christianity is all about, then we may be missing the point of Christianity’s true meaning, since our ears have become dull, our heart has grown coarse and our eyes are shut.

Today, if we realise and readily admit that we have gone off course as Christians, then let us come back to its true meaning. Let us not be afraid to see with our eyes, hear with our ears, and understand with our hearts, so that we could truly be healed by Christ and follow His ways faithfully.