Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: 5th

Friday of the 5th Week of Lent

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When it comes to the truth, righteousness and fairness, we may sometimes face a situation where people whom we thought are friends may turn against us. Finding genuine friends who would stand by us is certainly not easy, since many a times, we come across people who are not really true friends, more likely acquaintances perhaps. When we are faced with such a situation, what do we do?

Jeremiah in today’s reading faced such a situation. His so called “friends” disparaged him and watched for his downfall. Some of these “friends” were perhaps opportunists, being friends only when it suits them. However, the reading tells us: “But the Lord is at my side, a mighty hero; my opponents will stumble, mastered, confounded by their failure; everlasting, unforgettable disgrace will be theirs.” Jeremiah had full trust and confidence that God would rescue him and keep him safe. What about us? If we are facing a similar situation like Jeremiah, would we be just as trusting and confident?

Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent

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Whenever we experience a life-changing event, a part of us becomes different. We are no longer the person we were before. For example, when we were baptised, we were given a baptism name as a new identity, a new beginning, a child of God, and a member of a Christian community. Our old self dies and our new self emerges.

This was also the case with Abram, who God renamed as Abraham. God made a covenant with Abraham to be observed by him and his descendants. Notice here that it is God who takes the initiative and invites us to come closer to Him. God made the covenant with Abraham but He did not force it down Abraham’s throat. Abraham had a choice; to follow or not to follow. Most of us would assume that it would be absurd for us to not follow, but it is indeed surprising that some of us choose not to follow. Sometimes, even our attitude, behaviour, way of life, etc. are indications of our choice of whether we want to be close to God or otherwise. Ultimately, we are given free will to choose. May we choose wisely as our choice would be for eternity.

Wednesday of the 5th Week of Lent

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How many of us are willing to admit our mistakes or wrongdoing and give glory to God? Some of us may try to hide our mistakes by sweeping it under the carpet, hoping that no one would take notice or take action. Some of us may try to find a scapegoat and avoid taking responsibility. How many of us are willing to take responsibility, say sorry, reconcile and move on?

Today’s reading tells us of King Nebuchadnezzar. Even though initially, King Nebuchadnezzar appeared to be quite arrogant and hard headed, and even had Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego thrown into the fiery furnace for defying his order to worship his gods, King Nebuchadnezzar was willing to admit that God is the One True God when he exclaimed: “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: he has sent his angel to rescue the servants who, putting their trust in him, defied the order of the king, and preferred to forfeit their bodies rather than serve or worship any god but their own.” This shows that King Nebuchadnezzar was not as arrogant or hard headed as initially thought.

What about us? Are we able to open the eyes of our hearts and recognise our strengths and failings? Are we humble enough to admit our wrongdoings, seek forgiveness and reconciliation, and move on while growing closer to God?

Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent

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Some people can never be satisfied. You give them an inch, and they want a yard. You give them a room, and they may try to take over your house. You accommodate to their demands, and they may gradually end up taking away your rights completely. Even then, they may still be unsatisfied.

Today’s reading shows us how the Israelites lost patience and spoke against God and against Moses. Despite the many things done for them and the many things given to them, they were still not satisfied. When they were afflicted with fiery serpents, they begged Moses to intercede for them and they were rescued. However, did they learn their lesson? No. They became not satisfied over and over and over again. Did God give up on them? No. He continuously cared for them, no matter how ungrateful or dissatisfied they were.

What about us? Are we still not satisfied? Do we expect God and others to “kow tow” or adhere to our demands all the time? When will we ever learn to be grateful and thankful for what we have and what God has given us?

Monday of the 5th Week of Lent

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Lust is a dangerous thing. It can lead people to commit lie, cheat, murder, and other hideous sins. The 2 elders in today’s reading were filled with lust. They were so blinded with lust that all things proper, just, righteous, fair, and dignified were thrown out of the window completely. They were only determined to seduce Susanna and they were willing to try all sorts of dirty tricks to get their way. Unfortunately for them, Daniel was wise enough to trap them and condemn them with their own words.

We too could be guilty of lust. Even though we may not have committed the act directly, Jesus reminds us that looking at a woman with lust can even cause us to commit adultery in our hearts. Are we not satisfied, contend and faithful with our spouse? Let us be extremely cautious and not allow ourselves to fall into lust, lest we bring ruin upon ourselves.

5th Sunday of Lent Year A

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Death is inevitable. We can try to avoid death for as long as possible, but eventually we will die. Some of us may be blessed with a longer lifespan due to medical advances, good food, good genes, etc. but we cannot escape from death. Our bodies are not designed to last indefinitely. Even the things that we invent and use do not last long.

Today’s readings tell us about life and death, however death is not the end but life is. In today’s Gospel, Jesus promises life to those who believe in him. Jesus does not promise us long life here on earth, because ultimately our earthly life will end in death. Rather, Jesus is promising something so much better, that is, eternal life. This is why, in the second reading, we are reminded: “People who are interested only in unspiritual things can never be pleasing to God. Your interests, however, are not in the unspiritual, but in the spiritual, since the Spirit of God has made his home in you.”

What sort of life are we ultimately looking for? Are we interested in spiritual things and looking for eternal life with Jesus and with God? Or are we only interested in unspiritual things and looking for earthly life, which will eventually end with death? Let us not squander the many opportunities given to us to grow in spiritual life with God, since no matter what we do or choose not do, the fact remains that we will still die. Are we still looking what is merely temporary which will spoil, fade away or die? Or are we striving for what is eternal?

Friday of Week 5 Year 2

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When a healing is taking place, we need to ask ourselves: is the healing to give glory to God? Or is the healing to be used to show off to other people how great the healer is? Sometimes it is best for the healing to be done in private, as not everybody likes to be looked upon as a test subject.

Today’s Gospel tells us about a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech. Jesus showed his considerateness for this man’s predicament and removed him from the crowd. Perhaps the man would have felt embarrassed or uncomfortable being stared at while Jesus healed him. So Jesus took him aside privately, touched his tongue with spittle, and healed him, so that he could be released of his impediment, his faith awakened and strengthened, and freely proclaim the Good News of God. Symbolically, at RCIA, we conduct the rite of ephphatha, which is the opening the senses, where the ears and mouths of the elect are blessed so they may hear the Word of God and profess it.

Are our ears opened and tongue released? Are we using them to hear and proclaim the Good News? Let us seek the Lord’s healing if we have been dormant or lukewarm, and go forth to share the Good News to all.

Thursday of Week 5 Year 2

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Sometimes, we need to be given a hard knock or a good shock to awaken and strengthen our faith. When we are given things so easily, we may become complacent or take things for granted, and think that anything and everything would be given to us on a silver platter.

Today’s Gospel gives us a classic example of having one’s resolve tested. Jesus appeared to be insulting to the pagan woman. But if we read closely, he is actually testing the woman to see how serious she was in having her daughter cured. This woman responded to Jesus’ so called “insult” with wit and faith — “even the dogs eat the crumbs”. Because of this, Jesus praised the woman for her faith and for her love. She made the misery of her child her own and she was willing to suffer insult in order to obtain healing for her daughter, and while doing so, she showed her indomitable persistence. As a result, Jesus gave her what she wanted.

What about us? When we do not get our prayers or demands answered, are we able to be persistent and patient like the pagan woman? Let us not be so easily discouraged when the Lord tests us as He does so to help us grow even stronger in faith.

Wednesday of Week 5 Year 2

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Is what you are eating halal or haram (clean or unclean)? If you are a Muslim or a Jew, then you would need to worry about this, as there are certain types of foods which cannot be eaten, as it is haram or not kosher (or unclean). However, in today’s Gospel, Jesus is more interested with what comes out of us that makes us unclean, instead of what we eat. The scribes and Pharisees had become quite extreme in their practices when it comes to what can be eaten, and they were paying more attention to that instead of caring for their souls. But Jesus is reminding them that “It is what comes out of a man that makes him unclean. For it is from within, from men’s hearts, that evil intentions emerge: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within and make a man unclean.” These are more serious matters to be addressed, because the stain or uncleanesses does not only affect a person physically, but the stain or uncleanesses especially affects a person spiritually.

Today, Jesus is reminding us the same things as he did to the scribes and Pharisees. Are we unclean? Are our souls stained because of what has come out of our hearts? What are we doing to address this situation before it is too late?

Tuesday of Week 5 Year 2

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The Pharisees are an interesting lot. When we observe their behaviour, we could in some ways begin to feel empathy for them, as they have so many minute details, laws and instructions that need to be observed and followed. It is stifling for them, but because of years of conditioned living, it became extremely difficult for them to break out of their mindset. Certainly not a great way to live life, when you have been living in such an environment for years.

However, having so many rules and regulations is no excuse to ignore the true essence of God’s laws. To put it simply, God’s laws can be summarised into love God and love neighbour, and as Jesus taught and showed in many ways, one’s neighbour is not restricted only to one’s friends or acquaintances, but also others, including one’s enemies. In today’s Gospel, we see how the Pharisees were so engrossed in maintaining and obeserving their numerous traditions and practices, that they put aside the commandment of God. We too could fall into the same trap, if we start treating rules and regulations as more important than God’s commandments. This is not to say that we can forget about rules and regulations and do whatever we like. But the idea of having rules and regulations is to serve God and build God’s Kingdom, with love, mercy and compassion; not to use such rules and regulations to build our own kingdom and lord it over others. The question is: whose kingdom are we ultimately building?