Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: 20th

Saturday of Week 20 Year 2

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Throughout the years and in different parishes I have been assigned to, I have come across people who seem to have so many ideas and suggestions to make, and yet when they are asked to carry out such ideas and suggestions, they would suddenly back off and say that they are too busy, no time, unqualified and so many other excuses made. For example, there are people who have suggested that the church needs new leadership for different ministries, or that such ministries should have new blood to lead for a change, but when such persons are asked to take on such leadership, they all of a sudden have cold feet and try to push the task to others. Indeed, coming out with lots of ideas and suggestions is easy, but carrying them out is a different matter.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus told the people to listen to what the scribes and Pharisees tell them since they occupy the chair of Moses, but not to be guided by what they do, since they do not practise what they preach. The scribes and Pharisees knew how to talk, since talking is easy and cheap. But only talking is not going to bring any improvement or change if there is no action, since action speaks louder than words, or one should walk the talk.

What about us? Do we know only how to talk and make all sorts of suggestions and demands, without any further action or without getting ourselves involved? Are we willing to do our part in seeing that what we suggest is carefully considered, planned and eventually materialised? May we learn to be humble and zealous in doing what is right, and glorify God in all we do.

Saturday of Week 20 Year 1

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Every once in a while, I come across people who seem to have so many ideas and suggestions to make, and yet when they are asked to carry out such ideas and suggestions, they would suddenly back off and say that they are too busy, no time, unqualified and so many other excuses made. For example, there are people who have suggested that the church needs to have a funeral parlour, since more and more people are staying in apartments or condominiums, and such housing may not have a suitable place for a wake. However, when such persons are asked to take charge of such a project and see it through, they all of a sudden have cold feet and try to push the task to others. Indeed, coming out with lots of ideas and suggestions is easy, but carrying them out is a different matter.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus told the people to listen to what the scribes and Pharisees tell them since they occupy the chair of Moses, but not to be guided by what they do, since they do not practise what they preach. The scribes and Pharisees knew how to talk, and everything they did was to attract attention and make them appear as if they were holy and pious. But being holy and pious is not just about words, but also about action, or action speaks louder than words, or walk the talk, so to speak.

What about us? Do we know only how to talk and make all sorts of suggestions and demands, without any further action? Or are we willing to do our part in seeing that what we suggest is carefully considered, planned and eventually materialised? May we learn to be humble and zealous in doing what is right, and glorify God in all we do.

Thursday of Week 20 Year 1

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I sometimes wonder whether some of us have begun taking Mass or Holy Communion for granted. How many of us are properly prepared to come and participate at Mass, and receive Holy Communion properly and worthily? Do we observe important preparations such as the 1 hour fast before Holy Communion; and how many of us are regular for the Sacrament of Confession, in an effort to try receive Holy Communion in the state of grace? Do we assume that we have the right or entitlement to receive Holy Communion, come what may? Also, are we coming for Mass just for the sake of fulfilling the Sunday obligation?

In today’s Gospel, which is about the Parable of the Wedding Feast, we could pick up three important “I’s” for us to reflect on. The first I is Invitation. The Lord invites us every day to come to his banquet. He has it all prepared; but it is up to us to accept his invitation. We must be prepared to come when it is ready, instead of making all sorts of excuses or conditions. Are we willing to come with sincere and honest acceptance, at the moment he calls? The second I is Indifference. Those invited were indifferent. They ignored the invitation and went about their own businesses and works. They ignored the Lord. Just imagine, God Himself inviting us and then we have the audacity to say “No” to his invitation because we have other things to do. Have we become indifferent towards Mass and even indifferent in preparing before Mass? The third I is Inappropriate. Here, the concern is not so much on how we dress for the Eucharistic celebration, though this does not give us any excuse not to dress our Sunday best. The main concern here is more on how we are in Church: our inner disposition; whether our hearts are properly dressed. We may be physically present in church, but in reality some of us may actually be mentally absent.

The question that we need to ask ourselves sincerely is this: the Eucharistic celebration is like the Wedding Feast in today’s Gospel. We are already invited to come to God’s banquet, and we are expected to come and be properly disposed to come. But are we really ready and properly disposed to come? May we take seriously our inner disposition, lest we end up “bound hand and foot and thrown out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.”

Tuesday of Week 20 Year 1

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Some of us may have, from time to time, felt as if we are powerless and incapable of doing God’s will, especially when the problems and issues we face seem too big or too difficult to handle. When we are faced with such a situation, what do we do? Do we continue to struggle and persevere in doing our task, without being too concerned about whether we are successful in completing such a task? Or would we give up on the task or avoid it completely?

In today’s reading, the Lord turned to Gideon “and said, ‘Go in the strength now upholding you, and you will rescue Israel from the power of Midian. Do I not send you myself?’ Gideon answered him, ‘Forgive me, my lord, but how can I deliver Israel? My clan, you must know, is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least important in my family.’ the Lord answered him, ‘I will be with you and you shall crush Midian as though it were a single man.’” Even though Gideon felt that he was helpless and incapable of accomplish such a task, God assured him that he would be victorious, since God is with him to see it through.

What about us? Are we willing to trust in God’s providence and let God use us to see the task through? If God is helping Gideon to be victorious, even though Gideon felt weak and least important, just imagine what God would do for us if we put our full trust and confidence in Him.

Saturday of Week 20 Year 2

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I find it amusing listening to people who seem to have so many ideas and suggestions to make, and yet when they are asked to carry out such ideas and suggestions, they would suddenly back off and say that they are too busy, no time, unqualified and so many other excuses made. For example, there are people who have suggested that the church needs to have a better car park system, and they even suggest that a multi-storey car park should be built to accommodate the number of parishioners cared by the church. However, when such persons are asked to take charge of such a project and see it through, they all of a sudden have cold feet and try to push the task to others. Indeed, preaching ones ideas and suggestions is easy, but carrying them out is a different matter.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus told the people to listen to what the scribes and Pharisees tell them since they occupy the chair of Moses, but not to be guided by what they do, since they do not practise what they preach. The scribes and Pharisees knew how to talk, and everything they did was to attract attention and make them appear as if they were holy and pious. But being holy and pious is not just about words, but more so about action, or action speaks louder than words, or walk the talk, so to speak.

What about us? Do we know only how to talk and make suggestions and demands? Or are we willing to do our part in seeing that the task at hand is done? May we learn to be humble and zealous in doing what is right, and glorify God in all we do.

Monday of Week 20 Year 2

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When we meet with an accident or have a bad fall, we may fracture our hand or leg. Such a fracture could cause tremendous pain, and we may require surgery and even have the affected leg or hand be put in a cast to enable the fracture to heal. Sometimes the fracture may take quite some time to heal, and we need to bear the pain while healing takes place. However, when we sin, do we feel the pain of a fracture in our relationship with God? Do we make effort to put our sinful ways in a cast, especially by going for confession and doing penance, so that the fracture in our relationship with God could heal over time?

In today’s reading, God told the prophet Ezekiel that he was about to lose his wife but he was not to mourn or grief. The reading also tells us that God had said: “I am about to profane my sanctuary, the pride of your strength, the delight of your eyes, the passion of your souls.” In other words, God will allow His Temple to be destroyed by enemies and the people were also not to mourn or grief. Why were the people not to mourn and grief? Precisely because they had sinned, and Ezekiel would be a sign to them that a fracture has occured in the relationship of the people with God, and the people would experience the pain of this fracture and learn that the Lord is God.

Just as a fracture of our hand or leg causes us tremendous pain, do we feel the pain of a fracture in our relationship with God, or have we become numb or even indifferent towards the pain? May we take responsibility for the many fractures that occur in our relationship with God, as a result of our sins, and be willing and humble to be healed by our loving Lord, even if much pain may be experienced, for the good of our eternal future.

Saturday of Week 20 Year 1

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How generous are you when it comes to church and church activities? Would you be willing to give much time, talent and even money to enable the church to grow and carry out its mission? I find it amusing and interesting when I see what some people do when it comes to generosity. Some people would make all sorts of excuses, saying that they have not much time or money for church, and yet they can afford to buy big fancy cars, own property in affluent neighbourhoods, go for holidays overseas and even own several classy or high-end gadgets. Likewise, I have come across people who are not so well off, and yet they are willing to offer much time, talent and whatever amounts they can for church. Are we being generous for the glory of God, or are we being generous for ourselves?

In today’s reading, we hear how Boaz affirmed Ruth on her kindness and generosity towards her mother-in-law, especially in leaving her own people and her own land and following her mother-in-law to a foreign land. Because of her generosity, Ruth was further rewarded when Boaz took her as his wife and she also became part of the genealogy of Jesus.

What about us, are we willing to be just as generous like Ruth, knowing that God has been so generous to us in many ways? May we come to realise that everything we have in life is because of God’s generosity. We wouldn’t have anything, we wouldn’t even be alive, if it weren’t for God’s generosity, and God wants us to be generous like He is. Are we willing to change our attitudes and ways, and give glory to God with our generosity?

Friday of Week 20 Year 1

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Among the many things that we long for, one that seems to stand out is security. We can have good food, sufficient clothing, and other things, but when we do not feel secure, all these other things may not matter. Some of us even go to the extent of investing in a guard dog, or install an alarm system, or install some form of CCTV, to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our property from intruders. Some of us even move to a different area which seems more secure, such as a gated and guarded area, or where the neighbourhood seems pleasant and peaceful.

In today’s reading, we come across Ruth who could have followed her sister-in-law and return to her own people. Even Naomi her mother-in-law encouraged her to do so, since Ruth’s husband, who is Naomi’s son, had died, and Naomi and Ruth no longer had any source of income and security in the household. Instead of going back to her own people, Ruth chose to give herself to follow her mother-in-law to go to a foreign land, and gave up her sense of belonging and security. By giving up herself and giving herself to Naomi, God blessed her and her name is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus.

What about us? Would we be willing to give ourselves up to Jesus? What about giving ourselves up to the needs of others? Would we be willing to let go of our security and let God be in control? It is when we give our heart and soul and mind to God, we will be secure and at peace.

Wednesday of Week 20 Year 1

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Are we a generous people? Or are we an envious people? If we are a generous people then we should rejoice in the success and good fortune of others. The blessings that they receive reveal God’s goodness and generosity. If we are an envious people, then our hearts have become restricted and cold, so that it cannot rejoice in the good of others, much less, give to them. The envious person constantly compares himself or herself to others, forever worrying that somehow, somewhere, someone is receiving more than he or she.

In today’s Gospel, the landowner is confronted by envious workers who accused him of being unfair because he made the last ones, who worked only one hour, equal to them, by giving all of them egual wages. But what is the real purpose of this parable? Its real purpose is to emphasise the truth that we have a God who is compassionate, merciful and generous. His actions go beyond the human understanding of fairness and justice. God gives us His blessings not because we merit them but they are absolutely His free gift to us.

So the question we need to ask ourselves is this: are we grateful for the many gifts that God has given us, and are willing to be generous and loving to others, just as God is to us? Or do we have envy and jealously in our hearts, always expecting to receive more and more, and yet reluctant or unwilling to give? May we learn to be like our loving God, ever so generous and loving to all.

Monday of Week 20 Year 1

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Why do many of us continually persist in committing sin? Some say that it is due to human weakness. Some say that it is because we want to feed our pride and ego. Many reasons can be put forth, but one reason that seems pertinent or reoccuring is that we want to satisfy a desire, a craving, or a yearning for something which we long for, and yet for one reason or another, we are unable to satisfy it. So when such desires, cravings, or yearnings are not met, some of us may resort to evil, wicked or crooked ways to get what we want, and by doing so, we may end up committing sin.

In today’s reading, the Israelites were experiencing a recurring problem, that is, they turned to and worshipped idols, and did what displeased the Lord. Why did the Israelites commit such a sin? It is because of the kind of idols that they were continuously turning to, or in other words, the supposingly type of powers and abilities that such idols were thought to have, that caused the Israelites to persist in sinning against God. Who were these idols? They were Baal who was chief of the Canaanite pantheon and worshipped as the source of life and fertility, mightiest hero and lord of war; and Astarte who was worshipped as the beautiful goddess of fertility and sexual love. The Israelites persisted in worshipping them, in an effort to satisfy their desires, cravings, or yearnings for power, might, wealth, sex and the freedom from moral obligations. But did these idols really satisfy their desires, cravings, or yearnings? Of course not, since these idols do not have any power, and the desires, cravings, or yearnings of the Israelites could never be satisfied by such so called idols. But God offered the Israelites many opportunites to return to Him, even though at times He punished them for their iniquity, and even sent judges to try and help them. God never gave up on the Israelites, despite their constant turning away from God, and eventually the Israelites came to realise that it is only in God that their desires, cravings, or yearnings could ever be satisfied.

What about us? Are we still turning away from God to try and satisfy our desires, cravings, or yearnings through other ways or means? Let us remember that God offers us peace and joy that no amount of money can buy. It is up to us to accept God’s offer, and let Him be our true provider.