Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: 29th

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

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What is success? What is failure? Are any of us failures? The way the world sees success and failure is quite different from the ways of God. God created everyone for success. God did not create anyone for failure. But what do success and failure really mean? For most people, as for James and John in today’s Gospel, success means to be the best. To succeed means to excel. Success is measured by comparing one’s achievements against the achievements of one’s “competitors.” However, in today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us a new understanding of success.

For Jesus success means people realising and fulfilling God’s dream for them. Does this mean that God has already determined the outcome of our earthly existence? No. God has an intended destination for which He created you and me. But whether you and I attain this destination or not depends on how much we are willing to cooperate with God’s grace. God gives us free will to choose to cooperate or not.

James and John, on the other hand, represent an earthly understanding of success that encourages ambition, rivalry and unhealthy competition among people. We call such success the rat race, or as some may say, it is a dog eat dog world. On the other hand, Jesus teaches a different kind of success, which encourages mutual cooperation and contentment of realising that we can all be successful because God has created each and every one of us for something different. God has enough dreams to go round, a different dream for everyone, a different success for everyone. Our ambition in life should be to discover and live God’s dream for us.

At the end of the day, are we still seeking success here on earth? Or have we started to seek the kind of success that God has planned for each of us, different though it may be according to each person, but success all the same? May we be willing and humble enough to let go of temporary success, for the kind success which is permanent and eternal.

Friday of Week 29 Year 2

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What sort of lives are we really living in this world? Are we living the values of the Gospel? Or are we living the values of the world? Some of us may be actually living lives in contrary to the Gospel. We may appear to be holy, friendly or helpful, but there are dark and hidden secrets which we are too proud of or ashamed to mention or reveal and seek help. Are we content with the way we are living? Have we become complacent or not bothered, carrying on as we wish?

In today’s reading, St. Paul implores us: “I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called.” Are we really living lives worthy of our vocation as Christians, brothers and sisters in Christ? Do we really love others charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience, just as God loves us all and treats all of us as His children? Let us not be hypocrites in the way we live, but be genuine and true to our vocation.

Thursday of Week 29 Year 2

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How do you pray? Some of us pray through praise and worship. Some pray by reciting the rosary and meditating upon the various mysteries of each day. Some pray using the divine office (where, in some churches, the morning and/or evening prayer is prayed). Some dwell into Christian meditation. So many ways which we can employ to pray to God.

However, how many of us pray especially for others? Some of us pray for ourselves, and perhaps for our family members or friends. But what about for those whom we do not have any family ties, or friendship, or any connection in one way or another? Do we pray for our enemies, those who hurt or persecute us? Do we pray for God’s glory, for His Kingdom come and Will be done? Perhaps we need to look closely at how and why we pray, because sometimes our prayers may be only focusing on ourselves and on our circle of friends.

Perhaps a good way to pray is shared with us by St. Paul in today’s reading: “Out of his infinite glory, may he give you the power through his Spirit for your hidden self to grow strong, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, you will with all the saints have strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; until, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond all knowledge, you are filled with the utter fullness of God. Glory be to him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; glory be to him from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.” Ultimately, our prayers should be for His glory, and this prayer by St. Paul is a great example of asking God to strengthen us and use us for His glory.

Wednesday of Week 29 Year 2

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Each and every one of us is given different roles and responsibilities. Sometimes these roles and responsibilities come with a certain amount of authority. Not all of us are called to be in a position of authority, but when we are selected, we are expected to do our duty with integrity and impartiality. There are times where we may be tempted with riches, titles and other forms of attractions (including practises of corruption), but are we able to avoid all these temptations and be faithful in what has been entrusted to us?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus cautions us: “You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” If we are suddenly called by God to give an account of what we have done, would we be ready to do so? Have we been diligent and faithful in our roles and responsibilities entrusted to us? When we were given roles and responsibilities, a great amount of burden of trust and confidence was placed upon us to carry out these roles and responsibilities as consistent and as best we can. Jesus reminds us of such a burden: “When a man has had a great deal given him, a great deal will be demanded of him; when a man has had a great deal given him on trust, even more will be expected of him.” Humanly speaking, it would be difficult for us to do our duty properly or faithfully. This is where we need to continuously depend on God’s help and providence, so that we would not falter or give up. Let us always set our eyes upon Jesus, and let Him guide us in all we do.

Tuesday of Week 29 Year 2

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Some of us feel as if we have little to offer to God. Some think that they are not talented, or gifted, or capable. Some may get the impression that their abilities are being sidelined or not utilised. However, we should not forget who we are. We may not be doing lots of things, but it does not mean that we are any less important or significant than those who appear to be doing lots of things. After all, there are times we need to be like Martha, actively involved in many things, and there are also times we need to be like Mary, contemplating, listening to God’s voice, and learning from Him. The trick is to know how to strike a good balance, when to be what we are supposed to be, and how long we should be in a particular state.

In today’s reading, St. Paul reminds us: “So you are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. You are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone. As every structure is aligned on him, all grow into one holy temple in the Lord; and you too, in him, are being built into a house where God lives, in the Spirit.” We are all part of God’s plan, no matter how great or small our part may be. We are being nurtured as part of God’s household, and it does not matter whether we are doing lots or little. What matters is we are open and humble to let God guide us and help us grow in relationship with Him. Let us not be too concerned about only doing but also focus on being, and “grow into one holy temple in the Lord.”

Monday of Week 29 Year 2

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How much is enough for you? Would you ever be satisfied or content with what you have? Or would you continue to seek more and more? Some people are never fully satisfied with what they have. They cannot stand it when others have got the latest gadget or gizmo, or the latest set of wheels, or the latest home design, or the latest fashion or clothing. Even after getting all these things, some people still want bigger, faster, trendier, or better. It is a vicious circle, because what was relevant or the in-thing yesterday or today, could be obsolete or irrelevant tomorrow. Some people even begin to hoard things, because they are unable to let go or give away, even though many things they have are hardly used or not used at all. In the end, what happens? Our lives become cluttered and suffocated with temporal matter, but what happens to our efforts for the eternal matter?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus cautions us: “Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for a man’s life is not made secure by what he owns, even when he has more than he needs.” When we are so occupied with things here on earth, we may become complacent and ignore things that really matter. We begin to neglect the state of our soul. We think we still have plenty of time on earth to ensure our soul is kept spick and span, but Jesus warns us in the Gospel: “Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?.” Are we guilty in one way or another, as Jesus says: “So it is when a man stores up treasure for himself in place of making himself rich in the sight of God.” Are we going to continue to not bother, carry on doing things in our own merry way and procrastinate until it is too late?

So does this mean we should become paranoid or obsessive compulsive in our efforts in our spiritual growth? No. What this means is we need to be diligent, consistent and committed in growing in relationship with God. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and it takes time to nurture our spiritual life, but we should not have a false sense of security, thinking that we can slack or neglect in our efforts. Let us humbly, cheerfully and faithfully do our part, for our eternal betterment.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

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Some of us may be actually living with split or different personalities (similar to the story of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”). Some of us behave quite differently according to the situation or circumstances. For example, in the office, we may behave like a good, helpful and hardworking person in front of the boss or superior; but when it comes to other colleagues, we may begin to pick on a few who we think are a threat to our survival and advancement; or we may pick on those who we think are weaker or less capable, just to gratify ourselves. With friends, we may be jovial and cheerful, but when we are with family, our dark and discriminating side may emerge. In church, we may appear to be holy, prayerful and helpful, especially when the priest or bishop is present, but the moment we step out of church, our behavior and attitude towards our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ may change: some may even fight, quarrel, gossip, compete or belittle other parishioners.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus said: “Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and to God what belongs to God.” Is Jesus telling us to have different standards, attitudes, or behaviour for God and others? No. Jesus is not giving us an excuse for us to behave one way with God and another way with others. Does anything really belong to Caesar? Does anything really belong to us? No. Everything belongs to God, and we are merely stewards entrusted to the care of such things. So, whatever we do, whatever we have, whatever we supposingly own or have been given the privilege to use, are meant for us to glorify God; not for our own personal gain, gratification or glory.

In the same way, today’s first reading reminds us that everything ultimately belongs to God. In the reading, Cyrus was chosen “to subdue nations before God, and strip the loins of kings, to force gateways before Him, that their gates be closed no more.” God also reminds Cyrus: “Though you do not know me, I arm you that men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that, apart from me, all is nothing.” Indeed, this shows that we really do not own anything and should not be too proud or conceited with our achievements and things. Instead, we should remind ourselves that we are merely servants, entrusted with things, responsibilities and titles for the greater glory of God.

Therefore, no matter where we are, no matter who we are with, we should act and behave as children of God. Our life in church, with family, at the working place, in school, in the restaurant or among friends should not have any distinction or difference, especially in what we say or do. What is the point if we go to church behaving like angels, and then in other situations or settings, we become like “hantu” or devils? Are we being genuine, loving, or true to our identity as children of God, brothers and sisters in Christ? Or are we merely playing games, thinking that we can get away with our nastiness, meanness or aloofness? Let us 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).”

At the end of our lives, we would have nothing but our lives to give back to God. What sort of lives have we lived when we return our lives to God? Are we giving a life full of honesty, compassion, love and respect; or are we giving a life full of dishonesty, selfishness and sin? Let us choose wisely, for our eternal future.

Friday of Week 29 Year 1

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We are coming towards the end of October. Soon, November will be here. Soon, it will be Advent and then Christmas. All these things are what we hope to see.

However, we also know that there is no guarantee that we will be able to see the coming months or the coming celebrations. The situation around us is unpredictable, as we do not know what the future holds.

So what do we do? We hope, we pray, we trust, we love, and of course, we get ready.

Today’s Gospel warns us to make good with our opponent before we are dragged before the judge. This is no ordinary warning, because at stake is our soul. In life, we spend a lot of time, energy and wealth taking care of our bodies. Some of us bathe once or twice a day, put on perfume, make-up, eat good fruits and food, go for regular medical and dental checkup, etc. But how prepared are we spiritually? How prepared is our soul? Have we made peace with the many “opponents” in our life? Or are there hidden areas of darkness which could cause us to be “thrown into prison… unable to get out till you have paid the very last penny?”

Thursday of Week 29 Year 1

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If you are put in a situation where you have to choose God’s law or family law, which would you choose? For some of us, keeping the family united is important and we would not want to offend our elders, due to “filial piety.”

However, there are times where choosing God’s law would cause friction in our family, especially if there are certain members in our family who are not Catholic. If we choose to obey our family in this situation, we may be committing sin. If you are faced with such a situation, how would you respond?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us: “Do you suppose that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” What does this mean? It means, there are times we may have to choose between doing what is right in eyes of God, or doing what pleases our elders. Many sins have been committed in keeping the family honour, and as Catholics, we would certainly be put in a difficult and possibly dangerous situation. Would we be brave and wise enough to do make the right choice?

Wednesday of Week 29 Year 1

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In life, we need to make all sorts of choices. Sometimes the choices we make today can have far-reaching consequences, some good, some bad.

In today’s reading, we are reminded that we have a choice to make: to be slaves to sin or to be ‘slaves’ of righteousness. To many of us, this seems to be a no-brainer. After all, who wouldn’t want to be ‘slaves’ of righteousness, since we would be striving towards being with our loving God? However, this is where we need to do something: regular confessions, regular Mass attendance and participation, awareness examen, good conduct, etc. The question is this: are we still procrastinating, or have we started becoming more proactive for the betterment of our souls?