Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: 33rd

Monday of Week 33 Year 1

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How consistent and determined are we to ask God for something? Sometimes we ask God for something and we do not get it straight away, what happens? Some of us may begin to pout and throw a tantrum, demanding that God answers our request. But more often than not, God does not seem to give us what we want, even when we are behaving in this way, then what happens? Some us may give up, thinking that God would not listen to us anyway; some of us may be tempted to seek other forms of help; but how many of us are willing to patiently, persistently and consistently ask God for help?

In today’s Gospel, we come across the blind man who wanted Jesus to heal him. The blind man said: “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.” Even though people in front scolded him and told him to keep quiet, he shouted all the louder, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Eventually, the blind man was healed, because he had faith in Jesus. What about us? Do we have faith in Jesus like the blind man has? Are we willing to be patient, persistent and consistent in asking Jesus for help? May we not be so easily defeated but persevere and trust in God, knowing that He will do what is best for us.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

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Everything that we say and do here on earth has got a consequence or a result or effect. Sometimes we are able to experience the consequence almost immediately, sometimes the consequence occurs later in life. For example, if you purposely hit a dog, the dog may respond there and then by biting you. On the other hand, if you regularly eat fatty food or extensively processed food, you may experience the effects of such eating habits later in life, where certain body organs may deteriorate or fail. Then you may end up being saddled with hefty medical bills and you may also go through suffering and pain as a result of certain medical treatment or procedures.

In the same way, there are consequences which we may not experience while we are alive on earth. When we sin, it does not matter whether we have committed venial or mortal or serious sin, our soul is slowly soiled. We begin to lose connection with God. We think that we can get away with what we have said and done, or sweep it under the carpet and pretend that everything is fine, but we fail to realise that the consequence of our words and action will happen when we are called to account for our every action or omission. Many people live lives thinking that we can get away with what we have said or done, because we may not see the consequences of our negative words and actions in our present life. But unless we wake up to the truth that we shall be accountable for our every word and action, we will die without the opportunity or any chance to mend our ways. All will face judgement on the Last Day. All our actions, our mistakes, our good and bad deeds, our sins, our failures, our successes would be made clear on that day. Although God is loving and merciful, no one can escape judgment. No one can run away and hide.

In the first reading, we are cautioned: “Of those who lie sleeping in the dust of the earth many will awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting disgrace. The learned will shine brightly as the vault of heaven, and those who have instructed many in virtue, as bright as stars for all eternity.” Would we be among those who are granted everlasting life? Or would we face shame and everlasting disgrace? What is going to happen to us then? Do we know? Jesus in today’s gospel warns us: “But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son; no one but the Father.” Are we going to be caught off-guard and face the possibility of eternal damnation, or have we been consistent and persistent in our preparations, with hope of eternal and everlasting life? Do we want to risk waiting until it is too late?

All is not yet lost. There is still time to amend our ways now. Let us not wait till tomorrow or next month or next year. Let us not procrastinate further and fool ourselves into thinking that we are still young or healthy and have plenty of time. God can call us at any time and at any moment to give an account of your life. Are you still stubbornly or obstinately taking things for granted and taking things easy?

Thursday of Week 33 Year 2

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Opportunities come and go. We can choose to seize such opportunities, or we can choose to ignore them and let them go by. Some have become so used to certain ways, habits or behaviours that they are resistant to change. Such people refuse to accept good opportunities to enhance themselves or to change for the better, preferring to remain as status quo. But how long can such people remain as they are? There may come a time they would be replaced or retired, so that new ways and new blood could be introduced. In our faith journey, we may also become stagnant if we refuse to change. God gives us many opportunities to grow closer in relationship with Him, and it is up to us to seize such opportunities, or end up being left behind.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus had every reason to shed tears over Jerusalem. The Jews had heard the message of Jesus but His message of peace did not sink into their hearts. The Jews did not heed the signs that God gave them because of their stubbornness and refusal to change. As a result, Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, and the Jews who attempted to revolt against the Romans were destroyed and crushed. We too may suffer a similar fate, if we procrastinate or remain obstinate in our ways. God is patient and loving to all of us, and He gives us many opportunities to build a deeper and closer relationship with Him. We can choose to walk humbly in His ways, or choose to do things our way. Let us be mindful of the consequences of our actions.

Wednesday of Week 33 Year 2

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Eash and every one of us has been given gifts, talents and capabilities which are meant to be put to good use and ultimately to glorify God. Some of us make use of our gifts, talents and capabilities as intended, but there are some who do not do so. Some make all sorts of excuses, saying that they are not good enough, or not skilful enough, or they are too busy with other things to offer their gifts, talents and capabilities at church or at a parish ministry. The point is, do we consider our gifts, talents and capabilities as our own, to be used as we please, and perhaps to glorify ourselves? Or are we using such gifts, talents and capabilities for the greater glory of God?

In today’s Gospel, we read of a man of noble birth who gave ten servants one pound each to do business with. Most of the servants used their gifts, talents and capabilities to make more money for their master, and they were amply rewarded. But one servant, knowing fully well what sort of person his master was, still had the gall to hand back the one pound to his master without doing anything to it. Such arrogance and refusal to use his gifts, talents and capabilities for the benefit of his master only led him to be condemned.

What about us? Are we using our gifts, talents and capabilities wisely for the greater glory of God? Or have we become selfish, complacent or arrogant, like that one servant, refusing to use our gifts, talents and capabilities in a righful way? Just as that one servant lost his one pound and was condemned, we too may lose our gifts, talents and capabilities if we are not careful.

Tuesday of Week 33 Year 2

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What sort of state or condition are you in today in life? Are you happy, well-off, healthy, feeling peaceful, feeling loved and accepted; or are you feeling destitute, rejected, feeling depressed, struggling to make ends meet? What sort of state is your soul in today in life? Are you consistently making effort to grow closer to God; or have you become lukewarm, paying more attention to what this world has to offer and losing focus in your faith and dependence in God’s providence?

In today’s reading, the church in Sardis was once eager in faith for God but over time, it became more dead than alive in relationship with God. The reading also speaks of the church in Laodecia which was neither cold or hot in its zeal for God, but instead had become lukewarm in faith. How did these churches end up in such a state? Complacency, lack of focus, falling into the temptations of the world and becoming less humble and dependent on God are some possible reasons why these churches in Sardis and Laodecia had become like this. These churches in Sardis and Laodecia were warned by the Lord to wake up and change their ways and return to the Lord’s fold.

What about us? Have we become more dead than alive in our relationship with God? Have we become lukewarm in faith? God is inviting us to repent and turn back to Him, and dwell in His love and presence. Life is unpredictable and short, for we do not know the day or time we would need to face the Lord. We are given many opportunities to let Him guide us and care for us. It is up to us to take the initiative and make effort to change, open the door to our heart and soul, and let Him in.

Monday of Week 33 Year 2

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Every once in a while, we are faced with some difficulty or challenges or issues. When we are faced with such things, some of us may expect instant or quick resolution. When such quick resolution is not forthcoming, some may begin to pray earnestly to God, beseeching Him to help them. But what if we still do not get any help or response from God? Some may begin to feel angry or upset, some may think God has abandoned them, some may even give up or despair. But what about us? Are we expecting our issues or challenges to go away as quickly as possible? Or are we able to be patient and persistent in prayer, knowing that God will do what is best for us?

In today’s Gospel,  we see how the blind man was patient, persistent and persevering in asking Jesus to have pity on him. Even though the crowds thought he was a nuisance and scolded him, he refused to give up or be cowed by the crowd. Eventually, the blind man was able to come up to Jesus and because of his faith and perseverance, he got back his sight. What about us? Are we able to be like the blind man, being patient, persistent and persevering? In a world where we have become more and more used to fast results, perhaps we could learn from the blind man. We know that God will help us according to His terms and His time. It is a matter of whether we are willing and humble enough to have faith and trust in His providence.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

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Each and every one of us have talents and abilities unique to us. No two persons are exactly the same. Some people, unfortunately, go through life without living or realising their full potential. Some people are satisfied with doing only the barest minimum, and they often remark: “Why should we do too much? Why do more when we can get by by doing less?” The point is, God created us to live life to the fullest, not to live only a fraction or a small portion of our lives. If the way we are living is only 5% of what we are capable of, then we are wasting the other 95%. We are often reminded not to waste food, not to waste time frivolously, or not to waste our talents, but perhaps we should also remind ourselves not to waste our lives.

We should always be ready to meet the Lord at any time, and being ready means we should be giving glory to God in all we do. We may not be able to do everything, or get things done well, or achieve all our hopes and aspirations; but what matters is not the amount of things we have done, what matters is we have done our best for the glory of God.

In the first reading, we see the example of a perfect wife as a great example of what it means to be a Christian disciple. A perfect wife knows that “charm is deceitful and beauty empty.” What is important is that she is able to fulfil her roles and responsibilities, bringing “advantage and not hurt to her husband all the days of her life.” The perfect wife reminds us that we are made for the glory of God and not to bring hurt to Him or to others. Likewise, the gospel tells us the story of three servants who received different amount of talents from their master. The amount that they received is not important, as what matters is how they used what they received to benefit their master. Sometimes we may feel that we are receiving less than others and we may feel this is unfair. Why are we receiving less? We do not know, no one except God knows, but we ought to know that the more we receive, the more is expected of us. Whatever we receive ought to be used for the good of others and for the glory of God. If we just whine or complain that we do not have enough, if we do not bother to do anything with the little that we have, then even what we have will be taken away.

Are we making the best use of our lives? Are we living life to the fullest? Or are we living a life of mediocrity, thinking that we are not good, not capable, not talented, when the fact is we actually are? Remember that God has given us talents and gifts not for our personal gratification or to exalt ourselves (in Malay, not to “syiok sendiri”); God has given us talents and gifts for His greater glory. Let us not hesitate or procrastinate in our efforts to live life to the fullest or the best we can, since as St. Paul in the second reading reminds us: “But it is not as if you live in the dark, my brothers, for that Day to overtake you like a thief. No, you are all sons of light and sons of the day: we do not belong to the night or to darkness, so we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay wide awake and sober.”

Friday of Week 33 Year 1

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If you happen to visit different churches in your travels, one question may pop up: is the church a house of prayer or a robber’s den? While having activity around the church may be a good thing, sometimes the activity itself may cause distraction to those who want to have some peace and pray. Also, at times, certain activities such as buying and selling religious items, food stuff, etc. may tempt some to sin (cheating others when charging prices, gossiping, squabbling over price, etc.) When these things happen, we may be turning the church into a robber’s den.

Thus, we need to re-examine ourselves: why are we in church? Are we genuinely seeking God in prayer and reflection? Are we aware of the presence of the Most High in the Blessed Sacrament? Do we have respect for the sacredness of the church, within and it’s surrounding? Or have we allowed worldly activities to take precedence?

Thursday of Week 33 Year 1

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Most of us are given opportunities to be a leader in some way. Perhaps we are leaders in our home, perhaps in the office or workplace, perhaps in society, or perhaps in church. But wherever we are called to be leaders, we become aware of the great responsibility and expectation placed upon us. Are we firm and fair leaders, dedicated towards humble service? Or have we allowed power and prestige to get into our heads?

In today’s reading, we see how Mattathias and his sons chose to do what is right and just and obey God’s orders. The reading tells us that, “In his zeal for the Law, Mattathias went through the town, shouting at the top of his voice, ‘Let everyone who has a fervour for the Law and takes his stand on the covenant come out and follow me.’ Then he fled with his sons into the hills, leaving all their possessions behind in the town. At this, many who were concerned for virtue and justice went down to the desert and stayed there.”

Such leadership by Mattathias and his sons inspired many others to follow their example and remain faithful to God. As church leaders, are we showing fervour and good example, encouraging others to do the same? Or have we misused our leadership for our own gain, and caused others to go astray?

Wednesday of Week 33 Year 1

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Most of us would be very protective towards our family and kids, and often we would do our best to provide a secure and happy home. Some would send their kids for lots of classes: music class, ballet, tuition (one after another), taekwondo, etc., hoping that their kids would benefit greatly from such classes and gain an edge in the world.

But if we are faced in a dangerous situation where our faith is being challenged and the entire family could be wiped out, how would we advice or teach our kids? Would we tell them to save themselves, reasoning that they are young and have got lots of life ahead of them? Or would we be like that mother in today’s reading, who “was especially admirable and worthy of honourable remembrance, for she watched the death of seven sons in the course of a single day, and endured it resolutely because of her hopes in the Lord. Indeed she encouraged each of them in the language of their ancestors; filled with noble conviction, she reinforced her womanly argument with manly courage, saying to them, ‘I do not know how you appeared in my womb; it was not I who endowed you with breath and life, I had not the shaping of your every part. It is the creator of the world, ordaining the process of man’s birth and presiding over the origin of all things, who in his mercy will most surely give you back both breath and life, seeing that you now despise your own existence for the sake of his laws.’”

The question we need to ask ourselves is this: Is faith in God so precious, so valuable, so important, that we are willing to let our children and ourselves lose our lives so that we may gain eternal life? Or have we become so attached to the ways of the world that we are willing to compromise or abandon our faith, and in doing so lose our soul?