Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: Advent

21 December – Season of Advent

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In Facebook or Instagram or one of those social media sites commonly used today, we sometimes come across pictures of people leaping for joy into the air, with their hands raised and their feet off the ground. Usually such people who attempt such feats are young people, who are able to do so without fear of injury. Nevertheless, it is quite interesting to see such young people doing such things, as it portrays great joy or exuberance, possibly over some significant event, though at times, some young people just go ahead and do it for fun.

In today’s Gospel, the child in Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, as soon as Elizabeth heard Mother Mary’s greeting. Even in the womb, this child whom we would later be introduced as John the Baptist, was already aware of Jesus’ presence, long before any of them was born. If such unborn could recognise God’s presence, what about us? Do we leap for joy when we are in the presence of God? Or have we taken for granted His presence? May we rediscover and recognise the significance and sacredness of God’s presence in our lives, and continue to leap for joy for the Lord is here to help and guide us.

4th Sunday of Advent Year C

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As humans, I believe most of us long or desire for peace, peace not only in our families, society and the world, but also peace in ourselves. But the reality is that we live in a world where conflicts and misunderstandings are becoming part and parcel of life. As time goes by, we seem to see more and more violence, hatred and wars, as well as problems occurring not only in society but also in our own families. Some of us may start to think that peace is only a dream or an illusion, and that peace can never be attained.

But let us ask ourselves sincerely: Do we really understand what peace means? Peace is not merely an absence of violence and conflict. Peace is possible even in the midst of conflict, since peace is not only what we experience externally but something that must take root in our hearts. If there is no peace in our hearts, we can never experience peace outside of ourselves. We experience conflict in our hearts, simply because we constantly want to have things according to our ways, in other words, we want to be in control. The problem with wanting things according to our ways is that sometimes we are never in control of the situation. When we don’t get things our way, we become unhappy and won’t have peace in our hearts. The only way in which we can find peace is to allow God to take control of our lives. In the second reading, we are reminded of Christ, who came to obey the will of God the Father. When we come to realise that God’s ways are not our ways, and we are willing to surrender our lives to God, then we will have peace in our hearts.

So how do we start having or initiating peace? One way could be found in today’s Gospel: by offering and accepting hospitality. When we offer hospitality to one another just like Mary and Elizabeth offered hospitality and friendship to one another, peace takes place. It is when we refuse to offer hospitality to another person or when we refuse the hospitality given by another person that causes the lack of peace. We don’t need to accomplish great things or wait for great events that cause peace to take place. Peace can be a possibility today, when we are willing give or receive a simple word of encouragement, a kind act, a loving offer of help. Peace begins when each and every one of us believe we can make a difference, beginning with ourselves, and we are humble and willing to let the Lord be our help and guide, since as the first reading reminds us: “He himself will be peace.”

Some of us may feel overwhelmed, thinking that we are only one person. What can one person do, some may ask. What is important to note here is that we should not worry or fret. We can make a difference, especially when we allow God to take control of our lives, when we are willing to surrender our lives to Him. When we do this, we will find peace, peace even in the midst of problems and difficulties. As we prepare to welcome Jesus, our Prince of Peace, this coming Christmas, may we continue to depend on God’s care and providence, and experience true peace only He can give.

Housekeeping – 3rd Week of Advent

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For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:

13 Dec 2015 – 3rd Sunday of Advent Year C
14 Dec 2015 – Monday of the 3rd Week of Advent
15 Dec 2015 – Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Advent
16 Dec 2015 – Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Advent
17 Dec 2015 – 17 December – Season of Advent
18 Dec 2015 – 18 December – Season of Advent

Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Advent

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When a person is imprisoned in a dark cell for quite a while, the person may sometimes lose track of reality or what is actually taking place outside. Sometimes, the person’s mind could start playing tricks on him or her, and it could be quite a challenge to remain sane and cheerful. This may have been the case with John the Baptist, to the point that he began to wonder whether Jesus is really the messiah or not. Perhaps John the Baptist may not have fully understood what sort of messiah Jesus really was, so that is why he summoned two of his disciples, and sent them to the Lord to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or must we wait for someone else?’

Jesus reassured John that He is the messiah by giving this response to John the Baptist: “Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind see again, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, the Good News is proclaimed to the poor and happy is the man who does not lose faith in me.” Jesus is not the kind of messiah which some may have expected, certainly not a political messiah which some may have hoped would rescue Israel from Roman oppresion, but Jesus is the kind of messiah which brings salvation and forgiveness of sins to the world. In a way, Jesus was helping John to understand that John had prepared the way for spiritual salvation to all, and not wonder, lose faith or doubt any longer, but trust and believe in Him.

What about us? Have we had doubts or wondered whether Jesus is really going to save us from our sins? When we face difficulties, persecution or problems, some of us may have been tempted to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or must we wait for someone else?’ Let us set aside any doubts in our minds, and put our trust and confidence in Jesus, knowing that He is truly our messiah and He will be our help and guide.

Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Advent

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Throughout our lives, we have been given plenty of opportunities to change and experience a conversion, so that we may grow closer to God. However, we are not forced to change, since we have a choice to grow closer to God, or to remain as we are. Of course, we should know that our time on this earth is short, and we do not know when we would be called to face the Lord. No matter how hard we try, we cannot escape judgement, and hopefully during our lifetime on this earth, we had been maintaining a good and healthy relationship with God and with others.

However, there are still some among us who seem to think that we have plenty of time to change, or that we have become so preoccupied with earthly things, that we have neglected our spiritual life and our soul. This is where prophet Zephaniah in today’s reading warns us: “Trouble is coming to the rebellious, the defiled, the tyrannical city! She would never listen to the call, would never learn the lesson; she has never trusted in the Lord, never drawn near to her God.” Let us not be caught unprepared or under the illusion that all would be well, since trouble will come to us if we are not ready to meet the Lord. Are we risking our eternal future through our neglect or “tidak apa” or “don’t care” attitude?

3rd Sunday of Advent Year C

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Christmas is soon to come and many of us may be increasingly joyful, hopefully not because of the gifts we may soon receive, nor because of the delicious food and drink we may soon savour and enjoy, but because the Lord is very near and our salvation is near. This is emphasised by St. Paul in the second reading, where he tells us: “I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord; I repeat, what I want is your happiness. Let your tolerance be evident to everyone: the Lord is very near.” Waiting for the coming of Lord does not mean we should sit around being idle or lazy, but we need to take action and experience a conversion. The different groups of people in today’s Gospel had asked John the Baptist what they must do, and he told them and us too, that we must share with those who are needy; be just and fair in our dealings; refrain from intimidation and extortion to acquire what we want; and be satisfied with what we have. This means that, while we await the coming of Christ, we should not be aloof, selfish or greedy and think only of ourselves or our own needs and wants. Instead, we as Christians are called to put others first before ourselves.

But sometimes, some of us find it difficult to be generous or to share. We are reluctant to share, possibly because we are worried that there may be not enough for us. This is where St. Paul once again reminds us “that there is no need for worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus.” This means that God will take care of us and be our providence, and we will always have enough, since God can fulfil our every heart’s desire, fill the emptiness in our hearts, and satisfy our deepest longings. Only God can be our source of eternal joy.

Let us therefore allow God to fill our lives with His love, joy and peace. In the first reading, the prophet Zephaniah reminds us that our God is “a victorious warrior. He will exult with joy over you, he will renew you by his love; he will dance with shouts of joy for you as on a day of festival.” When we let God be the center of our lives, nothing can take away the joy of being his son and daughter. Let us also bring this joy to all that we meet, so that all may know true joy and give praise to God.

Housekeeping – 2nd Week of Advent

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For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:

6 Dec 2015 – 2nd Sunday of Advent Year C
7 Dec 2015 – Monday of the 2nd Week of Advent
8 Dec 2015 – The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Solemnity
9 Dec 2015 – Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Advent
10 Dec 2015 – Thursday of the 2nd Week of Advent
11 Dec 2015 – Friday of the 2nd Week of Advent

Monday of the 2nd Week of Advent

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How many of us have got steadfast and great faith that Jesus would be able to help us and heal us? Some of us say that we have faith, but when help or healing does not happen, we begin to doubt and begin to look for other ways or means of help. Some of us say we have faith, but in our minds we are already having a defeatist attitude, thinking that we are only kidding ourselves. How many of us are willing to be patient and let Jesus do what is best for us, for the glory of God?

In today’s Gospel, the paralysed man was fortunate to have friends who had great faith in Jesus. They had so much faith in Jesus that they were even willing to take the trouble and: “went up on to the flat roof and lowered him and his stretcher down through the tiles into the middle of the gathering, in front of Jesus.” This is because “the crowd made it impossible to find a way of getting him in.” Because of the great faith of such friends, the paralysed man was cured.

If people could have such great faith in Jesus and go through so much trouble to help the paralysed man be cured, what about us? Are we willing to put aside our fears, our doubts, and our insecurities and let Jesus be our help and guide? Do we not trust in God’s providence? Let us be persistent and consistent in trusting God, since He can help us according to His terms and for His glory.

2nd Sunday of Advent Year C

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There are some among us who have used the words “happiness” and “joy” so often, that the meaning may have become lost in translation. There is actually a huge difference between joy and happiness. You can experience joy without feeling happy, but you can’t experience happiness without being joyful. Happiness is a feeling that changes with the emotions we have in a day, but joy is a constant state of being that we choose. Happiness is an outward expression of a feeling we have inside, while joy is an inward peace and contentment that expresses itself through our responses and reactions. So, though we may be experiencing trials and sufferings in our faith life, we can still experience true or perfect joy, which we also call as Christian joy, since as the second reading tells us, God “who began this good work in you will see that it is finished when the Day of Christ Jesus comes.” It is a joy based on what God can do instead of what we can achieve.

Christian joy is a choice, a decision based on faith and hope, knowing that God will not abandon us, no matter what happens. God did not promise us an easy life, but that He will be with us at all times, and God is faithful to what He has promised. In today’s Gospel, we read the fulfillment of one such promise, where “All mankind shall see the salvation of God.” Jesus is the salvation of God, promised from of old and He is the source of our joy and our hope. If we believe that Jesus is our salvation, then we should remain joyful, and not live lives as if we are defeated or victims of tragedy. Though we may have undergone failure, experienced pain, disappointment, challenges and encountered all sorts of other difficulties or problems, our joy lies in knowing that God has won the victory for us. We may not see the signs of God’s victory at the moment, but it is there. This is God’s promise and He is always faithful.

So we cannot just sit down and sulk or do nothing. We must do our part. We must prepare a way for the Lord, by having a conversion in our lives. St. Paul in the second reading prays that “your love for each other may increase more and more and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception so that you can always recognise what is best. This will help you to become pure and blameless, and prepare you for the Day of Christ, when you will reach the perfect goodness which Jesus Christ produces in us for the glory and praise of God.” This too should be our prayer. May we grow and become ever more joyful in the Lord, and share this joy with all we meet.

Housekeeping – 1st Week of Advent

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For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:

29 Nov 2015 – 1st Sunday of Advent Year C
30 Nov 2015 – Saint Andrew, Apostle – Feast
1 Dec 2015 – Tuesday of the 1st Week of Advent
2 Dec 2015 – Wednesday of the 1st Week of Advent
3 Dec 2015 – Saint Francis Xavier, Priest – Patron of Missions – Feast
4 Dec 2015 – Friday of the 1st Week of Advent