Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: 2nd

Monday of the 2nd Week of Easter

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Every year, especially in a parish, we may have a good number of neophytes (that is, those who have just been baptised and confirmed during the Easter Vigil). I believe most of us would have been quite happy and joyful to have new members in our church community. But the question which often lingers in my mind is this: how many of these neophytes, also how many of us who have been baptised, whether recently or quite some time back, have really had a transformation from our old selves, or our old ways, to a new self or a new way?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us: “I tell you most solemnly, unless a man is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” At baptism, we were supposed to have been transformed from our old identity, to a new identity filled with the Spirit and given new life. However, some of us may be baptised and supposingly born again, but the way we live our lives do not seem to bear witness that we have really changed. Some of us continue to behave as we were before, doing things as we have been doing, living lives just like old times, as if nothing has really changed. Jesus reminds us in today’s Gospel: “‘I tell you most solemnly, unless a man is born through water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God: what is born of the flesh is flesh; what is born of the Spirit is spirit.” We may be born of the flesh, but have we really been born of the Spirit? Have we become witnesses and joyful proclaimers of the Good News, or have we been complacent and unappreciative of the gift God has given us? May we keep the fire of our faith burning, and not slack but redouble our efforts, as we make effort to live new lives in the Spirit.

Monday of the 2nd Week of Lent

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When we sin, we would seek forgiveness from God and go for confession to clean our soul from the sin which clings to us. But when someone else has sinned against us, or hurt us, or has done something terrible or mean towards us, how do we respond? Do we show love, compassion and mercy towards the other person, regardless of how bad the person has wronged us? Or do we seek retribution or revenge, or even avoid or shun the person?

In today’s Gospel, we are reminded: “Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned.” It seems so easy for us to ask God for forgiveness and compassion towards us, but how easy it is for us to forgive and show others compasssion, just as God has done so for us? Are we willing to let go of our pride, hurt, ego and self-righteousness, and learn to forgive and love others, just as God loves and forgives us?

Friday of Week 2 Year 1

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Do we really get to choose our leaders? Some of us think that we have a right to vote and choose our leaders, but in many cases, the choices given to us may not necessarily be what we want and expect. Sometimes we could be presented with a choice which a particular political party has decided, or because a particular person seems to be popular or has wealth or some other influence which enables him or her to be selected as one of the few choices. Given such situations, it seems like we do not really have much of a choice after all, since the ones we may want or expect, may not have the clout or support to get selected or voted in.

Likewise, today’s Gospel seems to give us an impression that we do not have much of a choice with the 12 who Jesus appointed. In the Gospel, Jesus summoned those He wanted, and He appointed twelve; they were to be His companions and to be sent out to preach, with power to cast out devils. But the difference here compared to the way people and political parties choose leaders is this: it is God who chooses, and He chooses persons to be His companions, to be sent out to preach, and to cast out devils. Notice that God chooses to fulfil His purposes, not to fulfil personal or political agenda.

So let us ask ourselves sincerely, when it comes to our leaders in church, especially leaders in the different church ministries: Do we choose leaders according to a worldly approach, where those who are popular, wealthy or influential are more likely to be selected? Or do we let God be in control, and seek His help and guidance to choose leaders to do His will? May we be discerning and careful in choosing our leaders, so that in all we do, may God be glorified.

Thursday of Week 2 Year 1

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Each and every one of us has got different needs and wants, and sometimes what we need and what we want can be numerous. To get what we need and want, we keep on praying to God, asking Him to grant our desires. When we get what we asked for, are we grateful and give thanks to God for His providence, or do we begin to ask for more and more? When we do not get what we ask for, what happens? Are we willing to let God do what is best for us, or are we going to look for other means of help, only to find that these other means of help are not of any help after all?

In today’s Gospel, we see the crowd swelling into a huge one, until Jesus had to get into a boat to avoid being crushed by the crowd. Indeed, people can be so demanding and their wants and needs can be great, and sometimes we could be crushing Jesus with our demands. While many of us are asking Jesus for so many things, how many of us are sharing or giving to others as well? Are we keeping what we have received only to ourselves? Just as Jesus has been generous to us in granting our needs, may we too be generous in helping and sharing with others.

Wednesday of Week 2 Year 1

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In the third commandment, we are reminded to honour the sabbath day. This commandment is meant to remind everyone to enjoy adequate rest and leisure to cultivate their familial, cultural, social, and religious lives. But sometimes, we come across people who go to two different extremes when it comes to the sabbath. On one extreme, we have the Pharisees who demand that keeping the sabbath means not doing anything at all, not even doing good or merciful things. On the other extreme, we have people who take advantage of the sabbath to make more money or reap in more profits. Could some of us be in one of the extremes?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus grieved to find the Pharisees so obstinate, and he looked angrily round at them, because they were extreme in their views of the sabbath. Even doing good or saving a life, to the Pharisees, is considered breaking the sabbath. But the Pharisees missed the whole point about the sabbath, and chose such extreme views because to them, it seems easier to not doing anything so as not to offend God. But how could doing good or doing something merciful be offensive to God? Seems strange, but that was what the Pharisees thought, because of their stubborn, obstinate and narrow-minded ways.

What about us? Have some of us become like the Pharisees in our views, thoughts, actions and conduct? Do we think that only our ways are right and everyone else is wrong? May we learn from our Eternal Master to be humble and open in our ways, so that we would do what is good, what is loving, what is right, what is just, and what is merciful, for the glory of God.

Tuesday of Week 2 Year 1

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Those of us who have taken part in a race would know what it takes to succeed. We would need to put in hours of practice, eat proper food to gain energy, get enough sleep, and do many other things to be prepared. But whatever one’s motivation is to participate in a race, patience, perseverance and persistence is needed, so that one would hopefully achieve what one is looking for. When it comes to preaching the Good News and serving others, we also need to be prepared, be patient, persevere and be persistent in our efforts. There are times where our efforts seem to be not as fruitful as we wanted, but what matters is not how effective or efficient we have been, what matters is how earnest and diligent we are in performing our tasks.

In today’s reading, we are reminded: “God would not be so unjust as to forget all you have done, the love that you have for his name or the services you have done, and are still doing, for the saints. Our one desire is that every one of you should go on showing the same earnestness to the end, to the perfect fulfilment of our hopes, never growing careless, but imitating those who have the faith and the perseverance to inherit the promises.” We cannot do everything and we cannot please everyone, but let us not grow careless or complacent in our efforts, but be faithful and consistent, for the greater glory of God.

Monday of Week 2 Year 1

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Why do we have rules? If a country does not have any rules, then society would end up in chaos and disintegrate. People would begin to do as they please, and there would no longer be any commonly accepted form of morality, justice or even peace. For example, if we do not have rules, a person could commit murder for some insignificant reason and get away with it, since a “to each his or her own” mentality could prevail. That is why we have rules, since rules set us free from so many uncertainties. Rules define what is right and wrong, and when we know what is right and wrong, we would know how to conduct ourselves and live. Rules are not there for us to break as we please, or to change according to our own whims and fancies, but to be observed for the good of all. When we are obedient towards rules, what happens? We are able to live in harmony, peace and justice.

In today’s reading, Jesus too obeyed rules by obeying God the Father. The reading tells us: “During his life on earth, he offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the one who had the power to save him out of death, and he submitted so humbly that his prayer was heard. Although he was Son, he learnt to obey through suffering; but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation and was acclaimed by God with the title of high priest of the order of Melchizedek.” Jesus showed us that by obeying and submit to God, He became a source of eternal salvation to all of us. By being docile and humble enough to hear and obey God’s voice, we have no reason and no need to fear, for God will be our providence and guide. Let us offer ourselves in obedience to God, and let God transform us into something better, for His glory.

Friday of the 2nd Week of Easter

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It is easy for some of us to get carried away with a certain task, or a certain situation or event, or a certain activity. When we get carried away, our emotions and feelings sometimes get the better of us, and some of us may not be able to see the task, situation, event or activity from a different angle. This could happen especially when we are so focused in getting things done or dealing with such situations, that our mind may become stuck and it seems to us as if there is only one way to complete the task or resolve the situation. But sometimes, there comes a time or a situation arises where we may need to think outside the box, but we cannot seem to get out of the present state of mind or thinking we may be in. Then what do we do?

What we may need to do is to have someone like Gamaliel in today’s reading to advice us and shake things up a bit, so we could reconsider or re-evaluate the situation. The members of the Sanhedrin were already so overcome with anger and jealousy that they were on the verge of destroying the apostles, but what they failed to realise is that what the apostles were doing is not of human origin, but of divine origin, and as Gamaliel rightly cautioned them, they may actually find themselves fighting against God. Fortunately for the members of the Sanhedrin, Gamaliel was in the right place and at the right time to help them think outside the box, and let the apostles be.

What about us? Do we have persons in our lives who could help us see things from a different perspective? Or are we ourselves, in one way or another, helping others to see things differently? May we be humble and docile enough to accept the advice of others, and see situations from a different angle or perspective, so that in all we do, may we give glory to God.

Thursday of the 2nd Week of Easter

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Supposing your parents were to ask you to carry out a task which would make them happy, and the task is okay in matters of faith and morals. Quite likely you would get the task done, since you would want to maintain a good relationship with your parents. Likewise, supposing your boss in the company you work in asks you to carry out certain tasks for the benefit of the company, and such a task is also okay in matters of faith and morals. Once again, you would probably get the task done, since by doing so, you might get a good job review or evaluation, and you might stand a good chance to get a salary raise or move up the career ladder. Sounds so far so good, isn’t it?

But what if you are put in a quandary? What if your parents demand that you do something that would make them happy, but by doing so, you would be breaking God’s commandments and the laws of the church? For example, your wife has conceived but the foetus has been found to have some sort of defect, and your parents feel that having such a baby would be an embarrasment to the family honour, and so your parents have demanded that the foetus be aborted to “safe face” and protect the family interests. Would you do as what your parents have demanded? Likewise, supposing your boss demands that you conduct certain unscrupulous tasks, such as sabotaging a rival company’s products, or coming up with statements or claims to put down or belittle a rival company’s reputation or products, all for the sake of eliminating the competition. Would we do as our boss says?

We hope that we would not have the misfortune of being confronted with such difficult choices, or face such dilemmas as mentioned. But sometimes, life does give us such tough situations and we need to make a choice or take a stand. In today’s reading, we are reminded that “Obedience to God comes before obedience to men.” In reality, when confronted with such difficult decisions, would we truly, honestly and unreservedly choose to obey God, or would we succumb to obeying men, just to save face, or to save our skin? Whatever choice we make, may we choose wisely, for our eternal future is at stake.

Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Easter

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In recent times, we have seen certain people or certain leaders doing nasty or naughty things and then trying to find ways and means to hide their actions. Some of such persons and leaders even resort to twisting and manipulating the laws of the country to try and protect themselves by persecuting those who are trying to expose them, or those who are trying to uphold the truth and what is right. Such persons, whom we sometimes call “whistleblowers,” end up being silenced; some end up being imprisoned; and some even end up dead. But how long can these persons or leaders continue their charade? One day, their deeds and crimes will be exposed, either in this life or in the hereafter. If any of us are like such persons or leaders, would we stubbornly continue to try and hide, thinking we could continue as normal? Or would we rather change our ways and make amends with God and with others before it is too late?

In today’s Gospel, we read: “though the light has come into the world men have shown they prefer darkness to the light because their deeds were evil. And indeed, everybody who does wrong hates the light and avoids it, for fear his actions should be exposed; but the man who lives by the truth comes out into the light, so that it may be plainly seen that what he does is done in God.” A person could try to hide evil deeds, corruption and other misdeeds, but one cannot hide indefinitely. Even if one thinks one could hide from others, such despicable acts or deeds would eventually become known by others, especially since information can spread so quickly and so easily in various ways these days. Moreover, such persons cannot hide from God, since all a person has done or failed to do would be presented when the time for God’s judgement comes. Are we going to lose our eternal life, just to save face only for a short moment here on earth?