Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: 28th

Thursday of Week 28 Year 2

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What do you do when you have done something wrong? Some people choose to keep the wrongdoing under wraps, or pretend that it never happened, or sweep it under the carpet, thinking and hoping that no one would notice or investigate or interrogate further. Some people would try to find a scapegoat to put the blame on, refusing to take any responsibility for what had happened. How many of us are truly, humbly or willingly able to admit the wrongdoing, seek forgiveness and make amends where possible, and move on?

In today’s Gospel, we see Jesus exposing the many wrongdoings and nonsenses that the scribes and Pharisees had been guilty of. Instead of admitting or acknowledging their guilt, they reacted towards Jesus’ accusation in this way: “…began a furious attack on him and tried to force answers from him on innumerable questions, setting traps to catch him out in something he might say.” When we are proud, conceited or self-righteous, we may be behaving just like the scribes and Pharisees by refusing to change our ways. Are we setting ourselves up for eternal ruin and condemnation, by refusing to change our ways even though we have been given many opportunities to do so?

Wednesday of Week 28 Year 2

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What sort of “spirit” are we living in? Are we living a spirit of self-indulgence? Or are we being “led by the Spirit?” Some of us may be living in a spirit of self-indulgence, especially when we are involved in “fornication, gross indecency and sexual irresponsibility; idolatry and sorcery; feuds and wrangling, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels; disagreements, factions, envy; drunkenness, orgies and similar things.” All these things would lead us away from God, as St. Paul in today’s reading has cautioned us: “I warn you now, as I warned you before: those who behave like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

However, if we are being “led by the Spirit” as mentioned by St. Paul in today’s reading, then “What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control. There can be no law against things like that, of course. You cannot belong to Christ Jesus unless you crucify all self-indulgent passions and desires. Since the Spirit is our life, let us be directed by the Spirit.”

At the end of the day, we are invited to choose: whether to be led by a spirit of self-indulgence, or to be led by the Spirit of God. How we live our lives today, what sort of spirit are we being led, is up to us to decide, and we should be ready and prepared to face the consequences or rewards.

Tuesday of Week 28 Year 2

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When people became Christians, they should have abandoned practises that contradict the Christian life, and have more trust and dependence on God. However, some still go back to old habits, attitudes, ways of doing things or behaviours which contradict how a Christian should live, especially when their prayers are not answered or when they do not get what they wish. Are we Christians only in name, as if it is some form of prestige or status symbol; or are we really and truly living as Christians, by showing our faith through our love?

In today’s reading, St. Paul reminds us: “Christians are told by the Spirit to look to faith for those rewards that righteousness hopes for, since in Christ Jesus whether you are circumcised or not makes no difference – what matters is faith that makes its power felt through love.” May we not take for granted our lives as Christians and show our faith through our actions, so that others may know that we are Christians by our love.

Monday of Week 28 Year 2

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It is interesting to observe how some people could claim to be free, but they are actually not free in other ways. For example, a person could seem free, but is enslaved by being addicted or dependent on substances, such as certain drugs, tobacco, or alcohol; or a person could be enslaved in various forms of personal gratification, abusing our minds and bodies; or a person could be enslaved in certain habits or attitudes, making it difficult for us to be truly human. So, are such people really free? Are you truly free?

In today’s reading St. Paul reminds us: “When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.” We were freed and made sons and daughters of God, but perhaps some of us do not understand, appreciate or value the freedom won for us. We slowly lose our freedom when we sin and neglect to have the sin cleaned by promptly go for confession. We lose our freedom when we become indifferent towards God and towards others and become enslaved in our ego, pride and personal gratification. May we not allow ourselves to be enslaved by such yokes of slavery and end up jeopadising our eternal future.

Housekeeping – Week 28 Year 2

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

9 Oct 2016 – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
10 Oct 2016 – Monday of Week 28 Year 2
11 Oct 2016 – Tuesday of Week 28 Year 2
12 Oct 2016 – Wednesday of Week 28 Year 2
13 Oct 2016 – Thursday of Week 28 Year 2
14 Oct 2016 – Friday of Week 28 Year 2

Friday of Week 28 Year 1

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Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. Different people have got different sorts of fear. Some are fearful of the dark, some are fearful of the unknown, some are fearful of strangers, while others are fearful of change. As Christians, what should we be fearful of?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus warns us: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. I will tell you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has the power to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” What Jesus is warning us is that we should not fear man and the things around us, because man can only destroy the body but not the soul. No matter what happens, God would be there to care for us. However, we should fear God, not in a paranoid or erratic way, but with reverence and trust, since God could destroy both body and soul. But is God going to destroy us completely as He pleases? No. Jesus in the Gospel assures us: “Can you not buy five sparrows for two pennies? And yet not one is forgotten in God’s sight. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. There is no need to be afraid: you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.” God has no intention of destroying us totally, so there is no reason to fear, since He is giving us plenty of opportunities to grow closer to Him. It is a question of whether we want to remain in His care and love, or to be away from Him. Ultimately, the choice is up to us.

Thursday of Week 28 Year 1

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It is not easy for some of us to hear the truth. The truth hurts, and when our behaviour, conduct and attitude are exposed, some of us may try to find ways and means to prevent the truth from being widely circulated. We do not want to lose face or become embarrassed, so our defence mechanism kicks in, and we begin to work on some form of damage control. But the fact is, the truth will prevail, we cannot sweep it under the carpet forever. We could keep trying to live in denial, only to be further humiliated, or we could face up to it, seek forgiveness, reconcile and move on.

In today’s Gospel, we read: “When he left the house, the scribes and the Pharisees began a furious attack on him and tried to force answers from him on innumerable questions, setting traps to catch him out in something he might say.” The scribes and the Pharisees knew that they were in the wrong, but they were stubborn, proud, egoistic and arrogant, refusing to admit their fault. Instead, they still insisted in keeping their facade, and tried to put Jesus down. But what the scribes and the Pharisees failed to realise is that Jesus was not just any ordinary itinerant preacher. The more they tried to go against Jesus, the more foolish they looked, even without realising it. Ultimately, we need to decide. Are we going to be like the scribes and the Pharisees, only to lose face even more? Or are we willing to be humble and docile, and let God help us change for the better?

Wednesday of Week 28 Year 1

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Some of us seem to easily find fault with others. We think that we are clever enough, wise enough or knowledgeable enough to tell others what to do or what not to do. But is that really the case? Are we really faultless, or are we merely being self-righteous and judgemental towards others? Jesus reminds us: “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you… (Matthew 7:1).” However, some of us still fail to realise that all of us are human, and we may not know the full facts or details. Thus, why do we still insist in looking at or judging others with coloured eyes?

In today’s reading, we are further cautioned not to judge. St. Paul warns us: “No matter who you are, if you pass judgement you have no excuse. In judging others you condemn yourself, since you behave no differently from those you judge. We know that God condemns that sort of behaviour impartially: and when you judge those who behave like this while you are doing exactly the same, do you think you will escape God’s judgement? Or are you abusing his abundant goodness, patience and toleration, not realising that this goodness of God is meant to lead you to repentance?” When we judge others, even when it is obvious that we have at some point of time done the same thing as what others have done, we are merely being hypocrites. May we be humble enough to admit our own failings, and learn to be compassionate and encouraging towards others, instead of trying to be self-righteous and judgmental.

Tuesday of Week 28 Year 1

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Some of us seem to be so preoccupied in maintaining cleanliness in our homes and even keeping our bodies clean. We would make so much effort to sweep and mop the house regularly, and most of us would take a bath at least once a day, and some even put on nice smelling perfume. But all these efforts to maintaining cleanliness are merely external cleanliness. What about our internal cleanliness, that is, the cleanliness of our soul?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus admonished the Pharisees when he said: “Oh, you Pharisees! You clean the outside of cup and plate, while inside yourselves you are filled with extortion and wickedness. Fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside too? Instead, give alms from what you have and then indeed everything will be clean for you.” The Pharisees focused so much on external practices, including so-called practices in cleanliness, that they neglected in keeping their souls clean. We too could be just as guilty as the Pharisees, by only putting on a facade of being clean on the outside, but what about the inside, our soul? May we come to realise that the cleanliness of our soul is more important, and may we do something to maintain the cleanliness of our soul, for our eternal future.

Monday of Week 28 Year 1

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Supposing someone were to come up to you and ask you: “What do you do as a Christian or as a Catholic?” What would your response be? Some of us may say we worship and pray to God and Jesus is our saviour and guide. Some may say that they attend Sunday Mass regularly and get involved in various church activities. But what are we supposed to do as Christians?

While all other activities and church events are good, our primary duty as Christians is to preach the Good News, as Paul says in the reading. Not only that, Paul also mentioned in the reading that Romans, to whom his letter is addressed, are also duty-bound to preach the Good News. This means that preaching the Good News is not only meant for religious leaders, each and every Christian is expected to do his or her part in preaching the Good News, in one form or another. Therefore, let us not slack or try to shirk our responsibilities, and go do what is expected of us.