Category Archives: 4th

When a stranger comes to church, do we welcome him or her and make him or her feel at home? Or do we mind our own business and carry on with our prayers or with whatever task we are doing? What if a stranger were to come to our home, would we be welcoming or hospitable towards the stranger; or would we be suspicious of the stranger, since we may have heard of horror stories of robberies or other unpleasant situations; or would we pretend not to be at home, hoping that the stranger would go away? What about those who are in prison or those who have been abused or badly treated? What have we done for them? Notice that these scenarios point to our duty to love others just as God loves us. It is easy to say we love God, since we do not see Him, but would we be just as generous in our love towards others, not just in words, but also in deeds?

In today’s reading, we are reminded: “Continue to love each other like brothers, and remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Keep in mind those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; and those who are being badly treated, since you too are in the one body. Marriage is to be honoured by all, and marriages are to be kept undefiled, because fornicators and adulterers will come under God’s judgement. Put greed out of your lives and be content with whatever you have; God himself has said: I will not fail you or desert you, and so we can say with confidence: With the Lord to help me, I fear nothing: what can man do to me?”

We call ourselves Christians and we believe that God would provide for us. But what are we doing or what have we done to provide for others? Are we making effort to love and care for others just as God is loving to all? Or has our love become a selfish love, only focusing on ourselves and perhaps on our loved ones?

If we are given an important task in our job, would we get to work immediately, or would we take things easy and procrastinate, thinking that the task could wait, no matter how urgent it may be? Quite likely we would get to work quickly, as our livelihood may be at stake, and we would want to make a good impression on our bosses or superiors, hoping that we would get a promotion or better pay. We certainly would not want to jeopardise our future by being lazy or complacent.

However, if it is Jesus calling us to perform an important task, how would we respond? In today’s reading: “Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs giving them authority over the unclean spirits. And he instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no haversack, no coppers for their purses. They were to wear sandals but, he added, ‘Do not take a spare tunic.’ And he said to them, ‘If you enter a house anywhere, stay there until you leave the district. And if any place does not welcome you and people refuse to listen to you, as you walk away shake off the dust from under your feet as a sign to them.’” We can see the urgency and gravity of the task Jesus had given to the Twelve, and they had to go forth quickly and not be concerned or saddled with things which could hinder them from performing the task. Would we be willing to follow the Twelve’s example and perform the task quickly, as our eternal future may be at stake, or would we still procrastinate and remain complacent, thinking that we have more important things to do?

Suffering is part and parcel of life. Before we were born, our mothers suffered labour pains and the pangs of childbirth. As we were growing up, we suffered growth pains such as our first attempts to walk only to fall down, possibly bump our heads or bottoms and cry, and then try again; the pain of our first teeth coming out, and we may have developed a fever and experienced great discomfort; and even the pain due to the consequence of our curiosity of touching something we should not be touching. We also suffered lost relationships such as the death of a loved one or when a loved one left us due to one reason or another. Indeed, we cannot avoid suffering, but what is more important is how we treat suffering. We could see suffering as a good or positive thing; or we could see it as a bad or negative thing.

In today’s reading, we are reminded of the necessity and advantages of suffering. We are told: “Have you forgotten that encouraging text in which you are addressed as sons? My son, when the Lord corrects you, do not treat it lightly; but do not get discouraged when he reprimands you. For the Lord trains the ones that he loves and he punishes all those that he acknowledges as his sons. Suffering is part of your training; God is treating you as his sons. Has there ever been any son whose father did not train him? Of course, any punishment is most painful at the time, and far from pleasant; but later, in those on whom it has been used, it bears fruit in peace and goodness. So hold up your limp arms and steady your trembling knees and smooth out the path you tread; then the injured limb will not be wrenched, it will grow strong again.”

We are all treated as sons and daughters of God, and when we suffer punishment from God, it is not because God does not like us or is out to get us. We are being trained to become better people, and we are growing closer to God. In this way, suffering ought to be seen as something good and worthwhile, for we are being prepared to remain happy and cared for in God’s loving presence.

Each day, we are faced with all sorts of trials, tribulations and challenges in life. Some of us would trudge on and do the best we can, while there are some who would find life quite unbearable and may resort to substances or other ways to ease the pain. Some may even give up and despair, thinking that there is little hope in going on. However, as Christians, we should have faith and confidence in God. We know that God would help us according to His terms, and we are reminded to continue to trust in His love and providence.

Today’s reading reinforces our need to depend on the Lord for help. The reading encourages us by stating: “With so many witnesses in a great cloud on every side of us, we too, then, should throw off everything that hinders us, especially the sin that clings so easily, and keep running steadily in the race we have started. Let us not lose sight of Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection…” The saints hsve gone through much persecution during their lifetime but they persevered till the end. We ought to follow their example “and keep running steadily in the race we have started.” Also, we are not in this journey alone, for we have Jesus to guide us and transform us into something better. Are we willing to be humble before God and walk in His ways, knowing that He will save us and lead us to Him?