Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: 20th

Friday of Week 20 Year 2

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What do you do when you are really down in the doldrums, when you feel as if there is no hope, when things look bleak and there does not seem to be any way out, when there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel? Would you give up and think that all is lost? Would you despair and go into severe depression, or even end it all? Or would you still trust in God, knowing that no matter how bad things may seem, He will help us out in His time?

In today’s reading, we see how God is about to rescue the Israelites and give them life again: “Then he said, ‘Son of man, these bones are the whole House of Israel. They keep saying, “Our bones are dried up, our hope has gone; we are as good as dead.” So prophesy. Say to them, “The Lord says this: I am now going to open your graves; I mean to raise you from your graves, my people, and lead you back to the soil of Israel. And you will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and raise you from your graves, my people. And I shall put my spirit in you, and you will live, and I shall resettle you on your own soil; and you will know that I, the Lord, have said and done this – it is the Lord who speaks.”” This reading shows us that God is not going to abandon us, no matter how bad or hopeless the situation may seem. Are we patient and humble enough to wait for God to save us? Would we be discerning enough to recognise when He comes to deliver us?

Thursday of Week 20 Year 2

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I believe most of us would not want to appear unkempt or smell bad, especially when we are outside. Even in our homes, we would want to keep clean. We spend a lot of time and effort in our personal hygiene, so that our bodies would remain fresh, clean and healthy. But all these efforts are only concerning our bodies. How clean have we been keeping our soul? Have we been keeping our soul clean by going for confession regularly, to remove the sins we have committed?

In today’s reading, God cleansed His people from their iniquity and sins: “I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed; I shall cleanse you of all your defilement and all your idols. I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead. I shall put my spirit in you, and make you keep my laws and sincerely respect my observances. You will live in the land which I gave your ancestors. You shall be my people and I will be your God.” By doing so, God took the initiative to help His people remove their uncleanness and shepherd them so that they would grow and prosper as His people. In the same way, God is also wanting to remove the uncleanness from our soul, and we are invited and urged to do so by going for confession and doing penance. Are we going to allow God to cleanse us, or would we prefer to remain dirty?

Wednesday of Week 20 Year 2

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Some people seem to think that only priests and religious are shepherds, and all others are sheep. Actually that is not the case, since each and every one of us are shepherds in different situations, and we have a responsibility towards the people under our care. For example, a person who teaches catechism is like a shepherd to those being catechised. If the person does not fulfil his or her duties in a responsible manner, those being catechised could be led astray. That is why each and every one of us who hold important functions or positions in church need to constantly remind ourselves that our duty and responsibility is to care and shepherd the flock with genuine love. We cannot slack or take things for granted or become complacent, since we would be accountable should something happen to the flock due to our neglect.

In today’s reading, the prophet Ezekiel warned the shepherds of Israel of their impending judgement: “Shepherds, the Lord says this: Trouble for the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shepherds ought to feed their flock, yet you have fed on milk, you have dressed yourselves in wool, you have sacrificed the fattest sheep, but failed to feed the flock.” The shepherds of Israel in this case had not done their duty faithfully. Instead of caring for the flock, these shepherds were preying on the flock and caring only about themselves. As a result, the Lord took the flock away from these shepherds to prevent them from causing any further damage.

What about us? Have some of us become like these shepherds of Israel, only concerned about ourselves and not the least bit bothered about the flock entrusted to us? If we have been neglecting or slacking in our duties, let us change our ways and do our duty, before it is too late.

Tuesday of Week 20 Year 2

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Can a person be successful, wealthy, well-known, famous or admired by others, and stay humble at the same time? Yes, it is possible, but it is certainly not so easy to do so, since such success, wealth, fame and other achievements could cause people to so easily become proud and arrogant. We have seen time and again people behaving one way before they attained success, wealth, fame and other achievements, and behaving in quite a different way after that. However, things become serious when a person becomes so proud, conceited and arrogant, even to the point of thinking that one is a god.

In today’s reading, we come across the ruler of Tyre who became so bloated with pride, just because he had attained wealth and power. The prophet Ezekiel was sent to remind him and caution him not to be so proud, and that he was only a man, not a god. The reading does not tell us at this point what happened to the ruler of Tyre, but from different parts of scripture, we have come to know that people who are so proud and arrogant would later come to realise their folly, sometimes when it is a little too late. May we learn not to be so proud, arrogant and conceited, since all we have and all our achievements are from God, and what He has given us, He can take away. May we learn to remain humble and depend on Him, letting Him guide us so that in all we do, we would give Him the glory.

Housekeeping – Week 20 Year 2

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

14 Aug 2016 – 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
15 Aug 2016 – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
16 Aug 2016 – Tuesday of Week 20 Year 2
17 Aug 2016 – Wednesday of Week 20 Year 2
18 Aug 2016 – Thursday of Week 20 Year 2
19 Aug 2016 – Friday of Week 20 Year 2

Friday of Week 20 Year 2

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There are several words that we use which could form a sentence in itself. Among these, one word which is quite significant is “why.” When we use the word “why,” we could be using it as a sentence to question, to interrogate, to wonder, or even to reflect on something. When we use “why” to reflect on something, we come to a deeper understanding of why we do what we do.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus responded to the Pharisees question about which is the greatest commandment of the Law: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.” Have you ever reflected on why these two commandments are the greatest? These two commandments actually are the very essence of being human, of being who we really are, and the meaning of our human existence. If we are to abandon or ignore these two commandments, we are actually ignoring our humanity, and by doing so, we become like the dry bones as mentioned in the first reading. We become dead, though we appear to be alive.

Thus, let us learn to love God and neighbour just like God loves all of us equally. Let us not harden our hearts, but let God be our help and guide, so that through our love and example, others would know what it means to be followers of Jesus.

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

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Among the important discoveries of humankind, one which changed many things in our lives is the discovery of fire. By learning how to make fire and use it to our advantage, people gradually abandoned their nomadic life and settle down as farmers, heralding the beginning of villages, town and cities. Fire can be useful or destructive. It can be used to cook our meals or to burn down a house. It can be used to run equipment for industrial use, or to produce weapons of war.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus makes use of fire to tell us why He had come: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!… Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” Some of us may find such a statement by Jesus difficult to understand and accept.  After all, He is called Prince of Peace by the prophet Isaiah. Now He is saying that He would set the earth on fire and bring about division. How do we make sense of such a statement then? We need to remember that Jesus, and us too, are not only priest and king, but also a prophet. In the Old Testament, the false prophet is one who tries to please the audience, especially the rulers. Such false prophets have got a personal agenda, such as personal gratification, fame, popularity, wealth or recognition. On the other hand, the true prophet proclaims God’s Word, to his contemporaries, regardless of the consequences. The true prophet strives to speak the truth, and his words and warnings are meant to make us look into ourselves and discover that we may be our first and worst enemy, since quite often, it is our evil desires and deeds that may have kept us from living according to God’s Word and walk in His ways. It is in this context that Jesus’ coming and teachings would set the earth on fire and bring about division.

So what does this mean to us? What it means is that Jesus is now asking us make our choice: For or against Him; to say ‘Yes’ to God or to say ‘No.’ There is no in-between, no ifs, maybes or buts. Our choice will have eternal repercussions: Live according to His Word and we would have eternal life; or go against His Word and we will face the consequences, including eternal damnation. But we do not need to go through this alone, since Jesus is there to guide us and help us. In the second reading, St. Paul gives us these words of encouragement: “Let us persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus… For the sake of the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.” With these words, St. Paul is asking us to make Jesus our model as we run the race of life. Jesus endured the cross and its shame in view of the “joy that lay before him,” and we too should do the same. Jesus received triumphant glory by His obedience to His Father’s will, and we would too, if we live by God’s Word.

Let us therefore make our choice for Jesus and reaffirm it daily in thought, word and deed. Let us throw off everything that hinders us, especially the sin that clings so easily, and keep running steadily in the race we have started. Let us not lose sight of Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection, so that we would be with Him for all eternity.

Friday of Week 20 Year 1

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In ancient times, there was no such thing as social security or a “welfare” state. People survived by depending on their spouse and children. This made it even more difficult for especially women to survive, should they have no husband, or should they lose their husband, and also should they lose their sons. If a woman was in such a terrible situation, she would need to depend on the generosity of neighbours and others who may help her according to their means, especially if the woman was elderly and no longer able to do some work to make ends meet.

In today’s reading, we come across one such woman named Naomi. She had lost her husband, and then lost both her sons. As she no longer had any immediate family, she felt that her two daughters-in-law Orpah and Ruth were no longer under any obligation to stay with her and help care for her. Perhaps she did not want them to see her as a burden to them, perhaps she felt that they were still young enough to go back to their people and perhaps find another husband. But whatever the reason was, Naomi was willing to let them go. Orpah chose to go back to her people, but Ruth was determined to stay with Naomi and together face an uncertain future. Because of her generosity and willingness to keep Naomi company, we will later see how through Ruth, the lineage of David would eventually lead to our Lord, Jesus Christ.

If you were in Ruth’s shoes, would you choose to stay, or would you choose to go? Either way, we are not at fault or wrong in our choice. But sometimes, our love and generosity could lead to better and greater things. It is a question of how much we are willing to give, since God could use the little we give to work wonders. May we consider our options carefully, and do what is right for the greater glory of God.

Thursday of Week 20 Year 1

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Some of us may have made vows or promises to God for some reason or another, but sometimes, we may have been unwise in the vows or promises that we have made. If God helps us attain what we desire or ask for, would we be able to fulfil the vow or promise made? We may find ourselves in a difficult situation, especially if the vow or promise we made is a foolish one. As Ecclesiates 5:4-5 cautions us: “When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow! It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.”

In today’s reading: “Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, ‘If you deliver the Ammonites into my hands, then the first person to meet me from the door of my house when I return in triumph from fighting the Ammonites shall belong to the Lord, and I will offer him up as a holocaust.'” Such a vow was indeed foolish and unwise, and Jephthah paid the ultimate price for making it, since the first person to meet him was his only daughter. Unable to go against his word, Jephthah had to fulfil his vow by offering his only daughter as a holocaust.

What about us? Have we made foolish or stupid vows recently? Are we not only setting ourselves up for our own ruin? As Jesus cautions and reminds us: “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” Why do we make vows that we know would be quite difficult or impossible to keep? Why are we putting the Lord to the test? Let us not be careless in what we say or the vows we make, but say what we mean and mean what we say.

Wednesday of Week 20 Year 1

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Most people like to be recognised or rewarded for the work they do. When they have completed a task or some projects, they hope to get a good job review and look forward to an increase in salary, perks or even a promotion. Few people in the world are content with remaining as they are, without any reward, remuneration or recognition. However, when the boss or superior begins to reward everyone equally, regardless of how much or how little a person has done, there are bound to be some who feel cheated or that the boss or superior has been unfair in the way the reward was distributed. Some people would begin to feel disillusioned or less motivated, and some may just leave the company in disgust, because in their mind, rewards should be given in proportion to the amount of effort done and results achieved.

In today’s Gospel, we come across a landowner who hired workers at different hours of the day. Each worker was promised one denarius a day no matter how much or how little work he had done. When it came to paying the workers, the landowner had kept his end of the bargain or agreement. He paid each worker one denarius as what had been agreed. But this is where some workers began to grumble, as some of us may do so too. Those workers who had worked longer hours had expected to be paid more, but when they received one denarius too, they felt cheated and felt the landowner was being unfair. But if we recall, the landowner had made an agreement with the workers, and in that agreement, each worker would be paid one denarius a day, nothing more, nothing less, and that is exactly what the landowner had done.

Sometimes we come across a boss or a superior who is like that landowner. If the boss or superior is being kind and generous to all, do we have a right to complain? God is like that landowner, and He cares and loves all, regardless of how good or bad we have been. Do we have a right to complain? Instead, shouldn’t we be grateful and thankful that we have a boss or superior who is generous to all? He or she could have easily rewarded only his or her favourites, but chose to reward all generously. In the same way, God could have cared for only those who have been holy or good, but He cares for all of us and is patient with us. Thus, let us give thanks to God for His generosity and providence, and continue to do all things for His greater glory.