Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: 28th

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

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What is your favourite chapter or verse in the bible? Some of us seem to have a favourite chapter or verse, which we often turn to, to remind us of God’s love, to comfort us when we are facing difficulties, or when we are in need of strength and encouragement. But the bible is not only about such things. The bible also contains chapters and verses which could make us feel quite uncomfortable and uneasy, as the second reading reminds us: “The word of God is something alive and active: it cuts like any double-edged sword…” This means that the bible not only consoles us but also challenges us. It does not only promise blessings but also spells out curses which arise when we fail to remain faithful to God.

Today’s Gospel is one example where reading the bible could make us feel quite uncomfortable or uneasy. Why so? In the Gospel, the rich man claimed that he had kept all the commandments from his earliest days. Then Jesus posed him a greater challenge, “Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” If you were in the rich man’s shoes, how would you have felt? Quite likely some of you would have been bewildered with such a challenge. It seems crazy and absurd for us to get rid of everything that we have and become a pauper, just to follow Jesus. But what is Jesus really trying to tell us? Are you able to read between the lines?

What Jesus is trying to tell us is quite profound and concerns us as Christians, as His followers, as His disciples. Jesus is reminding us that the kingdom of God is far greater than the kingdom of men. The treasures which we will find in heaven far surpasses and outweighs the riches which we accumulate on this earth. Unless we are prepared to let go of things on this earth by being detached from them, we will not be able to gain treasures in heaven. This is because when we are concerned only on things of this life, which are temporary, will fade, and which we cannot take with us after death, then we are truly being foolish, since we are spending so much time trying to accumulate earthly things which would eventually be lost to us.

But is being rich wrong? No, that is not the point of what Jesus is trying to teach us. What Jesus is trying to tell us is to remove all obstacles, such as our riches, our pride, our wealth and possessions, or our power, which prevent and distract us from following Him and becoming truly His disciples. While we do need to survive in this world, we should not be entangled by what this world has to offer, and lose sight of our heavenly goal. As some may have heard, we should “eat to live” and not be concerned with “living to eat.” This means that, like the camel in the Gospel, we must remove earthly burdens which encumber us, so that we may pass through the “eye of the needle,” if we seek to be in the Kingdom of God.

Some of you may be thinking: giving up our earthly riches and being detached from them? Sounds impossible. We are surrounded by so many forms of temptations to gain more and more of what this world has to offer. How do we tear ourselves from such constant bombardment of earthly attractions? Once again, Jesus assures us: “For men it is impossible, but not for God; because everything is possible for God.” May we seek God’s help and grace, so that we would be able to give up all attachments that will prevent us from following Jesus, so that we would be lightened and free to strive towards His Kingdom.

Friday of Week 28 Year 2

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Hypocrisy is defined as a pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really possess; or a pretense of having some desirable or publicly approved attitude. People are hypocrites when they are not being real, they put on a show but in actuality are not who or what they really are, and do not practise what they preach.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us to “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees – that is, their hypocrisy. Everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear.” We can try to appear to be holy, or religious, or humble, but our pretense or masquerade could be exposed. Instead, we need to be truthful and honest about ourselves: are we really being who we are? Are we saying and doing things for our own benefit and glory, or just to sound good or look good, or just to please others? Are we being blind guides and causing others to stray? We may think we can run, but we cannot hide forever. One day we would need to give an account of our attitude, behaviour and conduct. When that happens, what would the consequences be?

As Jesus cautions us in the Gospel: “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.” Let us thus be true, be real, be genuine in what we say and do, and make every effort and without pretense to walk humbly in God’s presence, learning to love all, while trusting and depending on Him.

Thursday of Week 28 Year 2

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When a person does something wrong, how the person would respond to the wrongdoing very much depends on the person’s value system, morality code, conscience, or attitude towards life and the hereafter. 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. Some people would manipulate others or create a ruckus or a distraction, hoping that others would become preoccupied with other issues and forget or ignore the issue at hand. How many 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. However, these scribes and Pharisees refused to admit or acknowledge their guilt. Instead, 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. However, we should remember: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Gal. 6:7-8)” Are we setting ourselves up for eternal ruin and condemnation?

Wednesday of Week 28 Year 2

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As we journey on in this life, we are often surrounded with all sorts of worldly attractions. Some of us may be tempted by these world attractions, which St. Paul in today’s reading calls self-indulgence. As a consequence of self-indulgence, we may fall into: “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, as St. Paul warned us, would lead us away from God, where he said: “I warn you now, as I warned you before: those who behave like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Instead, we should be focusing more and more on what St. Paul describes as being “led by the Spirit.” St. Paul reminds us: “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.” The question is: are we making conscious and consistent efforts to be led by the Spirit, or have we allowed ourselves to be stricken with self-indulgence?

Tuesday of Week 28 Year 2

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When we were baptised, we became a new creation, a child of God. We became a loved and valued member of God’s family. But sometimes, we forget that we are supposed to change from old ways to God’s ways. Some of us go back to old habits, attitudes, ways of doing things or behaviours which contradict how a Christian should live. For example, there are people who may have consulted witch doctors, feng shui, divinations or medicine men in the past. When these people became Christians, they should have abandoned such practises and had more trust and dependence on God. However, some still go back to such practises, especially when their prayers are not answered or when they do not get what they wish. But do these other practises really help? Or are these practises merely taking us for a ride or straining our relationship with God and with others?

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.” How much faith and love do we really have for God and for others? Is our faith and love genuine, for the greater glory of God? Or are we still clinging on to our own selfish needs, trying to do things our way whatever the cost may be?

Monday of Week 28 Year 2

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Are we a free people? Or are we an enslaved people? We may think that we are free, since there are many things we can do without let or hindrance. We may think that we are free, since we live in a rather peaceful environment (though this may not necessarily be the case for some in certain places). But are we really free? Some of us may be addicted or dependent on substances, such as certain drugs, tobacco, or alcohol. Some of us are entrapped in various forms of personal gratification, abusing our minds and bodies. Some are snared in certain habits or attitudes, making it difficult for us to truly love, forgive and reconcile. Are we really 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. Let us consider carefully the freedom given to us: are we going to maintain our freedom and remain in good relationship with God? Or are we squandering our freedom, only to ruin our eternal future?

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

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Do you know what heaven is like? Have you seen heaven? Perhaps our imagination of heaven could have been influenced by what we see in the movies or television. We imagine that heaven would be up there above somewhere in the clouds where everyone has wings and are dressed in white robes and perhaps holding a harp. But is heaven really like that? No. We do not know what heaven is really like, since no one has gone there and come back to tell us exactly what heaven is like. But we do know heaven is in a state of being with God, being in His presence. Other than that, heaven is a mystery, just as God is also a mystery.

However, today’s readings give us some glimpses or ideas of heaven. In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah gives us an image of heaven where there would be a banquet of rich food; no more mourning as death will be destroyed; every tear will be wiped away as there is no longer any pain or suffering.We would also be able to see God face to face, and not just have some vague idea of what He may be like. In the Gospel, we are once again presented with the image of the banquet through the parable of the wedding feast. What is interesting is that all are welcomed to the wedding feast. In the Gospel, we read that “The servants went out to the crossroads of the town and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike.” However, people are not forced to enter. God chooses to invite all to be with Him, but we can choose not to enter or respond.

One may ask: why would anyone in their right mind not want to be in heaven with God? It may sound crazy or illogical, but there are people who refuse heaven. There are several reasons why people refuse heaven. One could be because some people feel they are not worthy or too sinful to be with God. They feel naked and ashamed, and prefer to hide from God, just as Adam and Eve tried to hide from God after eating the forbidden fruit. This could be the reason concerning the man mentioned in the gospel who was found to be without a wedding garment. The man, by not wearing a wedding garment, by not being prepared and ready to be with God, possibly due to feeling ashamed, and choosing to remain silent, had condemned himself.

Another reason why people refuse heaven is because these people are full of resentment, hatred and unforgiveness. They are unable to love, forgive, reconcile, have compassion and mercy towards others. Heaven is a state of harmonious and loving relationship between others with God. When people are filled with resentment and unforgiveness, they are unable to dwell in a state of harmonious and loving relationship between others with God. Because of this, these people are experiencing hell; and they choose hell because they refuse to love, forgive and reconcile.

What about us? Are we longing for heaven? Or are we refusing heaven? Ultimately, we are given a choice. This choice is for keeps, it is an eternal choice, it is what is called a fundamental option. God does not force us to be with Him; we choose to condemn ourselves by refusing His love, forgiveness, care and providence. We condemn ourselves when we stubbornly choose to remain as we are, thinking only about ourselves and refusing to love, forgive and be reconciled with others. Let us consider carefully the consequences of our choice for there is no turning back.

Thursday of Week 28 Year 1

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People who have done something wrong may try to hide their wrong doing in many different ways. Some may keep quiet and sweep it under the carpet, hoping the matter does not surface. Some may try to find a scapegoat and put the blame on the other party. Some may even make lots of noise or fuss and hope that by creating a ruckus, people will get confused and forget about the issue at hand.

Today’s Gospel shows Jesus giving it nicely (or in BM, taruh betul-betul or kow kow) to the scribes and Pharisees for their many wrong doings. However, as we can see, instead of acting justly and humbly to correct their wrongs, the scribes and Pharisees tried to attack back with “innumerable questions, setting traps to catch him out in something he might say.” Pride and arrogance have consumed these scribes and Pharisees, and we too could be guilty of the same.

Are we willing to change our ways, and walk humbly before God? Or have we become proud, arrogant and self-righteous like the scribes and Pharisees have here?

Wednesday of Week 28 Year 1

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As humans, some of us admit that we are partial and biased in one way or another. For whatever reason, we may treat some with favour, some will be treated indifferently, some will just be overlooked. In other words, we may look at people with different standards.

This can lead to situations where the “favoured” people get away with something that others will be severely punished for.

The last line of the 1st reading says that God has no favourites. That means God is impartial, that He loves everyone regardless of whether they are good or bad, clever or not so clever, etc.

What about us? Are we able to be impartial to all, just as God is impartial towards us?

Monday of Week 28 Year 1

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What would Jesus say about our generation?

Jesus gave a stern warning to his generation when they demanded a sign from him. When the religious leaders pressed Jesus to give proof for his claims, he says that he is God’s sign and that they need no further evidence from heaven than his own person. Unfortunately the religious leaders were not content to accept the signs right before their eyes.

What about us? When God gives us a sign, warning us to change our ways, do we get the hint? Or have we been blinded and fail to take notice and do something till it is too late?