Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: 23rd

Monday of Week 23 Year 1

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The institution of the Lord’s Day is meant to help everyone enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, social, and religious lives. However, some of us seem to be taking the Lord’s Day as an opportunity to make a profit, especially since the Lord’s Day is usually a non-working day, and more people could be around shopping. On the other hand, some people take advantage of rhe Lord’s Day to avoid any form of work, even if the task is a charitable, merciful or compassionate one. Such persons fail to realise that, ultimately, the Lord’s Day is meant for all to rest and to give glory to God in our worship and in the good that we do.

In today’s Gospel, the scribes and the Pharisees had extreme views about the Sabbath. These folks were so extreme and stubborn that not a single thing could be done during the Sabbath. Even charitable, merciful or compassionate acts were forbidden to these scribes and the Pharisees. Jesus was amazed with their attitude, and He still went ahead to cure the man with the withered hand. As a result, these scribes and the Pharisees began to discuss the best way of dealing with Jesus, since what Jesus did was illegal or wrong in their distorted minds, and something needed to be done to stop Him from embarassing them further.

Sometimes we too could be like the scribes and the Pharisees. We fail to realise that at the end of the day, the Lord’s Day is for us to grow in relationship with God and with others, while giving glory to God. Some of us have forgotten that what God wants is “mercy, not sacrifice.” May we come to realise the real meaning and purpose of the Lord’s Day, and give God the greater glory in our words and deeds.

Friday of Week 23 Year 2

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In life, some of us take on a task for a variety of reasons. Some do so because they like a challenge and want to diplay their capabilities. Some do so because they expect some sort of reward, having a “what’s in it for me” attitude. Some do so because they are being forced into it, and they get the task done half-heartedly. But how many of us are willing to do so for the glory of God?

In today’s reading, St. Paul reminds us: “All the runners at the stadium are trying to win, but only one of them gets the prize. You must run in the same way, meaning to win. All the fighters at the games go into strict training; they do this just to win a wreath that will wither away, but we do it for a wreath that will never wither.” We may want to win, we may want to take on a task, but we should check our intentions on why we are doing so. Are we wanting to win or taking on a task for our own gratification or to boost our ego? Or are we wanting to win or taking on a task to give God the glory and to strive towards our eternal reward?

Wednesday of Week 23 Year 2

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Some of us may have heard of the words: “don’t go looking for trouble.” What these words basically mean is whatever we do and whatever state of life we may be in or we may be thinking of getting into, we should consider the consequences and weigh the costs. In other words, we should not play play when making a choice concerning a state of life, and think carefully and thoroughly before making any commitments.

In today’s reading, St. Paul advises us: “About remaining celibate, I have no directions from the Lord but give my own opinion as one who, by the Lord’s mercy, has stayed faithful. Well then, I believe that in these present times of stress this is right: that it is good for a man to stay as he is. If you are tied to a wife, do not look for freedom; if you are free of a wife, then do not look for one. But if you marry, it is no sin, and it is not a sin for a young girl to get married. They will have their troubles, though, in their married life, and I should like to spare you that.” What Paul is trying to tell us is basically this: be faithful, contend, responsible, dedicated, and committed to the way of life you are presently in or chosen and soon to be in. Don’t go “looking for trouble” by trying to run away or shirk from your duties and responsibilities in whatever way of life you have chosen. May we be faithful to the state of life we have chosen, and in all we do, give glory to God.

Tuesday of Week 23 Year 2

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As Christians, we sometimes come into conflict with a fellow brother or sister. Sometimes the conflict could be a small matter. Other times, it could be a serious matter. But whatever the matter may be, we should settle issues among ourselves, within our community. However, some of us are still stubborn and insisting that we bring such matters, no matter how trivial it may be, to court, such as the local magistrate, or even high court.

This is why St. Paul in today’s reading admonishes us: “How dare one of your members take up a complaint against another in the law courts of the unjust instead of before the saints? As you know, it is the saints who are to ‘judge the world’; and if the world is to be judged by you, how can you be unfit to judge trifling cases? Since we are also to judge angels, it follows that we can judge matters of everyday life; but when you have had cases of that kind, the people you appointed to try them were not even respected in the Church. You should be ashamed: is there really not one reliable man among you to settle differences between brothers and so one brother brings a court case against another in front of unbelievers?”

The church has got a tribunal which has priests and lay people as judges and lawyers. Some people think that the tribunal is only for marriage cases, but it is much more than that. Cases between Catholics concerning an issue could also be heard. Why do we stubbornly and vehemently insist in getting unbelievers to judge our cases, as St. Paul questions us, when we have a tribunal which could do the same in a Christian way?

Monday of Week 23 Year 2

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Yeast is a helpful ingredient when making bread. You need just a bit of yeast to make the bread rise. However, when you put too much yeast, the bread becomes spoiled and can no longer be used. That is why, when it comes to baking bread, one needs to know the proper technique and the amount of yeast needed, otherwise one’s efforts in baking bread would not be fruitful.

In today’s reading, St. Paul warns us that, just as a bit of yeast can make bread rise, a bit of sin not addressed and confessed will eventually darken and damage our soul. If left further unchecked, we may even lose connection with God, as the infection becomes terminal. That why we should not delay or think that we have plenty of time to go for confession and clean our soul, since the yeast of sin could create barriers within us and prevent us from making amends with God. May we not allow ourselves to come to a stage where we lose connection with God, and risk our eternal future.

Housekeeping – Week 23 Year 2

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

4 Sept 2016 – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
5 Sept 2016 – Monday of Week 23 Year 2
6 Sept 2016 – Tuesday of Week 23 Year 2
7 Sept 2016 – Wednesday of Week 23 Year 2
8 Sept 2016 – Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Feast
9 Sept 2016 – Friday of Week 23 Year 2

Monday of Week 23 Year 2

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Every once in a while, we come across people who are extremely stubborn and obstinate. No matter what you say or do, such people have become so set or fixated with their ways that nothing can change their thoughts or mind set. It is certainly not easy to deal with such people, and we could only imagine what Jesus went through with the scribes and Pharisees in today’s Gospel, who were just as stubborn and obstinate in their ways.

In today’s Gospel, the scribes and Pharisees were so extreme in their ways that even curing a man on the sabbath is forbidden, as the Gospel tells us that they “were watching him to see if he would cure a man on the sabbath, hoping to find something to use against him.” Jesus was not dancing to their tune or following their strict interpretation of the law, and as a result, the scribes and Pharisees were going all out to get Him. When Jesus went ahead and cured the man with the withered hand, the scribes and Pharisees “were furious, and began to discuss the best way of dealing with Jesus.”

Perhaps we should look at ourselves and the way we lead our lives: have some of us become so stubborn and obstinate like the scribes and Pharisees, so much so that the letter of the law has become more important than the spirit of the law? Sometimes we forget the purpose of what we do, and do things merely to observe and follow God’s law, whereas we should be observing a greater law, which is the law of love. May we have a change of heart and attitude, and learn to be loving and compassionate, just as our God is loving and compassionate to all of us.

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

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Is it easy to follow Jesus and be a Christian? No. There are many things about being a Christian which goes against the ways of the world, and this could lead to misunderstanding, conflict, persecution and even death. That is why we must count the cost before committing ourselves; we must know what we are getting ourselves into; and we cannot follow Christ blindly or be a Christian without considering the serious implications of our call.

So what is so challenging and difficult about following Jesus and being a Christian? Today’s Gospel gives us a few points to think about. Firstly, we are told: “Anyone who comes to me without hating father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, cannot be my disciple.” This is difficult teaching especially since many of us are constantly taught that family comes first. But Jesus tells us that if we are asked to choose between what our family wants us to do and what God wants from us, we must always choose what God wants, even if this may go against the wishes of our family members. Does this mean that we should stop loving our family members? No. We must love them, but we must be strong in our commitment to the truth and to what is right. Great sins have been committed to maintain and to safeguard family honour. But being a Christian means our family should not be an obstacle to prevent us from being a good Christian and doing God’s will. Secondly, we are told: “No one who does not carry his cross and come after me can be my disciple.” This means that we must be willing to offer our lives totally to God, just as Jesus offered His life totally on the cross to save us from our sins. Thirdly, we are told: “None of you can be my disciple without giving up all that he owns.” This means that if we choose to follow Jesus, then we must change completely our attitude towards the goods of this world. We must be willing to be detached from such worldly and temporary things, and use them not for our own selfish needs or for our personal gratification, but to help others and to glorify Him.

Humanly speaking, these points seem to give us the impression that it seems impossible to be a Christian, if we are only to rely on human reasoning. This is why we need to constantly seek that divine wisdom which the first reading speaks of: “As for your intention, who could have learnt it, had you not granted Wisdom and sent your holy spirit from above?” It is this divine wisdom which would help us recognise that the things we are prepared to give up in this world are nothing or insignificant, compared with the riches we shall obtain in the kingdom of God.

Today, we are presented with a choice: to remain with the ways of the world, or to follow Jesus and be firm and steadfast to the ways of God. Naturally, it is not an easy or straightforward choice, but we cannot have it both ways. If you are placed in such a situation, may you be prudent and choose wisely, since your eternal future may be at stake.

Friday of Week 23 Year 1

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It is easy for some of us to find fault with other people. Some of us begin to see only the imperfect or less desirable things about others, instead of acknowledging their strengths and capabilities. One reason why people look down upon others or only know how to find fault with others is because the person himself or herself is insecure and unwilling to come to terms with one’s own faults. So to try and cover up their own faults, the person would project such faults on others. But sometimes, the person’s own faults would be exposed, and when confronted, they may become even more insecure and agitated. Quite often, this stems from the fact that the person is too proud or egoistic or even having some sort of inferiority complex, making it difficult for the person to be humble enough to admit one’s faults and change for the better.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus admonishes us when He says: “Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.” Perhaps we should learn to be less proud and egoistic and learn to be more humble, so that we could learn to grow into better persons as we grow closer in relationship with God. Nobody is perfect and if we think we are perfect, then we may be like gods and we may think that we do not need God. Our pride and ego will not help us in the long run, so instead of trying so hard and remaining so stubborn in our present circumstances, let us be willing to let go and let God be our guide and help. After all, what good is all the pride and ego in the world to us, if it would only lead us to eternal ruin in the end?

Thursday of Week 23 Year 1

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Each and every one of us may have experienced conflict at some point of our lives. Sometimes the conflict could be a really small matter, nothing serious, and should be amicably resolved in short time. Sometimes the conflict could be of a more serious issue, and we may need more time to resolve it, but ultimately, we need to employ Christian charity and forgiveness, and not let such an issue blow out of proportion. As some of us may have heard, “let us not make a mountain out of a mole hill.” In other words, we should be courageous, kind, firm and forgiving in getting the conflict settled, instead of adding more fuel to the fire and making things worse.

In today’s reading, St. Paul reminds us: “You are God’s chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body. Always be thankful.”

We should remember that when we pray the Our Father or the Lord’s Prayer, we are also asking God to be our guide, our providence and also to forgive the many trespasses we may have committed. But at the same time, we too should do the same towards others, as St. Paul reminds us. Are we compassionate, kind, humble, gentle and loving enough to forgive and love others, just as God has forgiven us and loves us immensely?