Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: 26th

Thursday of Week 26 Year 2

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One reality of doing God’s work or preaching the Good News is that we may face much opposition and persecution, even the possibility of being put to death. When we are faced with such opposition and persecution, what do we do? Do we slowly lose our zeal or even give up in our efforts? Do we run away and go only to places which seem safe or where we feel accepted? Do we pick and choose where we want to serve? Or are we willing to serve fervently and with much zeal, come what may?

In today’s reading, Job’s friends had initially come to console him but they ended up telling him that he was being punished by God for doing wrong. Instead of being consoled by his friends, his friends persecuted him. When faced with such friends, what did Job do? Job responded to them by these words: “I know that my vindicator lives.” Even though there seemed to be no sign that God cared for Job, yet Job had a spirit of abandonment to God, and had absolute confidence and trust in God.

What about us? When we are faced with difficulties or even persecutions in our lives as Christians, would we be willing to follow Job’s example in having a spirit of abandonment to God, letting God take control? May we continue to do God’s will with zeal and trust, and glorify Him with our efforts and with our lives.

Friday of Week 26 Year 1

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When something goes wrong, how many of us are willing to take responsibility for what has happened? Perhaps some of us may do so, but there are also people who refuse to admit they have done wrong and try to play the blame game and put the blame on others, or even find a scapegoat to take the blame. Why do people do such things? It could be because of their pride and ego, where they are unwilling to admit they are wrong, even though it is quite obvious, and they even think that they can never be wrong. Such persons rather stick to their way of thinking and refuse to learn from their mistakes, expecting others to accept them as they are. Could some of us have such behaviour or attitudes in some way?

In today’s reading, Baruch reflected upon the disastrous events that had happened to the Israelites, especially the destruction of Jerusalem, and exile in Babylon. He came to a conclusion: “To us, the look of shame we wear today, we have sinned in the sight of the Lord, we have disobeyed Him, we had not listened to the voice of the Lord our God.” Everything that went wrong and all the disastrous events that happened, Baruch pointed the finger at himself and his people, instead of trying to put the blame on others.

What about us? Are we willing to be humble and admit our mistakes? Are we willing to seek forgiveness from God and from others, while being willing to forgive others too, when they have wronged us? Are we willing to learn from our mistakes and wrongdoings, and let the Lord change us into better persons?

Thursday of Week 26 Year 1

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Sometimes we forget who we are as Christians. When we forget who we are, we may end up doing and saying things which offend God and hurt others. That is why we need to be reminded as often as possible, especially through the reading of the scriptures, who we are and how we are supposed to live. When we read the scriptures, or when we hear it being read, are we moved with what we hear? Or have we become unreceptive towards the scriptures?

In today’s reading, Ezra gathered the men, and women, and children, and read to them from the Torah. He stood, on a raised platform in the rebuilt Temple, and from morning until midday read the Torah, from beginning to end. The men, women, and children listened to their story, their family history, the laws which God had given them; and they discovered who they were. They raised their hands in the air, and proclaimed, “Amen, Amen” and they wept for joy. Why were they so moved?  Finally, they understood who they were, who God had called them to be, and they began to understand the commandments which were to guide their lives.

What about us? Do we finally get it? Do we realise who we are? We often think of ourselves as brothers and sisters in Christ, but have we read the scriptures and finally understood what it means to be brothers and sisters in Christ? May we come to a realisation of who we are, who we are called to be, and let the Lord be our help, providence and guide.

Wednesday of Week 26 Year 1

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In today’s reading, we come across Nehemiah who was a slave and the king’s wine-attendant. The duty of a wine-attendant was to ensure that the wine tasted good and was not laced with poison. If the wine tasted bad, Nehemiah could lose his head. Not only that, Nehemiah had to serve the wine with a happy face, otherwise he could be punished. So when the king asked why did he look so sad and what was in his heart, a great fear came upon him, because he risked punishment for looking sad, and he wanted to go back to his homeland to rebuild his ancestral city, but he was afraid that the king might get offended by his requests.

Nehemiah called on the God of heaven, and then made his request to the king. To his surprise, all that he asked for, even the timber for building of the Temple, was granted. Why was Nehemiah able to have all his requests granted? Because Nehemiah called on the Lord first, and the favour of the Lord was upon him. So the next time we are faced with any choices or decisions, and before we make a choice or decision, let us call on the Lord first, so that His favour would be upon us.

Tuesday of Week 26 Year 1

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In our efforts to preach the Good News, we may come across resistance and opposition. The reaction of a good Christian is not to get angry with those people who oppose and resist us, but to have more patience with them. The task of a disciple of Jesus is not to destroy but to build up. We must temper our tendency to return evil for evil. But being patient to such people is not so easy. This is because some of us are used to quick results, and we expect our ministry to flourish after a certain time. But the reality is, God’s ways are not our ways, and sometimes our efforts may not bear fruit as we expect. Then what happens?

In today’s Gospel, we see an example of expecting quick results in ministry, where the brothers James and John said to Jesus: “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” This is because the people of the Samaritan village did not receive them well. But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went off to another village. Jesus showed His disciples, and us too, that using force or threats is not the way to preach the Good News. At the end of the day, we are required to do our part, the rest we leave it in the hands of the Lord.

Friday of Week 26 Year 2

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Some of us, at some point of our lives, may have been guilty of saying too much. Sometimes, we think we know it all, and try to show how much we know or how clever we are by giving comments, advice, suggestions, or even criticism, even though these were not asked for in the first place.This causes us to get into trouble for saying or asking certain things which should not be said or asked, or is not for us to be concerned about.

In today’s reading, we are presented with God’s response to Job’s lamentation. Job had lamented why he was going through all sorts of sufferings and calamnities, and was trying to figure out where he had gone wrong. In response, God posed a number of rhetorical questions to Job, all of which are designed to show Job how small he is in relation to God’s plan. In posing such questions to Job, God was reminding Job that His wisdom isn’t like human wisdom; His ways are not human ways. Faced with such questioning, Job realised that he had said too much, perhaps he had overstep the line, and he said (possibly sheepishly): “My words have been frivolous: what can I reply? I had better lay my finger on my lips. I have spoken once… I will not speak again; more than once… I will add nothing.”

What about us? Have we realised that there are times we have overstep the line? Have we realised that we said too much? Let us learn to know what to say and when to say things, and place our trust in God, knowing that some things are best not asked or said, but trusting and having confidence in His care and providence is the better way to go.

Wednesday of Week 26 Year 2

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Things happen for a reason and sometimes we humans find it difficult to understand why such things happen in the first place. We begin to question ourselves, question others or even question God, asking or even demanding answers as to why such things have occured. Some of us even begin to blame others or even blame God for what has taken place. But the point is, things really do happen for a reason, and even though the reason may not be revealed or may not be so clear or understandable, are we humble and willing to put our trust in God?

In today’s reading, Job questioned: “”How can a man be in the right against God?” “Can anyone be so rash as to challenge Him for reasons?” Sometimes we may never know why certain things have occured. Other times, we may get some understanding of why such things happen. But instead of looking for someone or something to blame; instead of looking for a scapegoat; perhaps we should learn from what has happened, and give thanks to God for His care and providence. Every cloud has a silver lining, and let us not lose sight of God, knowing that He will help us and transform us into something better.

Tuesday of Week 26 Year 2

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Each of us may have faced some sort of problem, calamity, hardship, suffering, anxiety, stress, or depression at some point of our lives. When we are faced with such situations, what do we do? Some would give up and despair. Some would resort to abuse of substances. Some would start blaming others for their condition, or even blame God. How many of us would bravely, resolutely and unwaveringly go through the situation, trusting God and knowing that God would help us?

In today’s reading, we come across Job who had been inflicted with one catastrophe after another. Satan was trying to make him curse God for the situation he was in. Yet, Job did not curse God or despair. He cursed the day he was born instead, wishing that he had not been born. Job did not put the blame on anyone or God, but expressed his feelings via figures of speech and exaggeration. Job still trusted in God to see him through his predicament. What about us? Are we patient and humble enough to trust in God’s providence and help?

Monday of Week 26 Year 2

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People can sometimes act strangely depending on the situation. When times are good, most people would enjoy the goodness and not think much about it. But what happens when bad times occur, when there is widespread disease, destruction, wars, persecution, suffering and other calamities that happen? Some people would begin to curse and fret over such misfortune or calamities. Some people would even think that there is no hope, causing some to even consider ending it all. But how many of us are able to give thanks to God, even in the face of such calamities?

In today’s reading, Job was faced with one calamity after another. Facing one calamity was already bad enough, but facing so many in one day? It was certainly painful and shocking for Job, but what did he do? The reading tells us: “In all this misfortune Job committed no sin nor offered any insult to God.” If we were in Job’s shoes, would we be able to do the same? Would we still be thankful and grateful to God for all that He has done, and remain confident in His providence?

Housekeeping – Week 26 Year 2

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

25 Sept 2016 – 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
26 Sept 2016 – Monday of Week 26 Year 2
27 Sept 2016 – Tuesday of Week 26 Year 2
28 Sept 2016 – Wednesday of Week 26 Year 2
29 Sept 2016 – Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels – Feast
30 Sept 2016 – Friday of Week 26 Year 2