Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: Apostle

Saint Matthias, Apostle – Feast

Posted on by Posted in Apostle, Feast, St. Matthias Leave a comment

Not many of us realise the implications of what love means. Some of us think that we are loving the way God loves us, but actually more often than not, our love has got strings attached. Our love tends to be a selfish love, a “what’s in it for me” love, or a love with conditions attached. For example, some of us say that we love a person or something, but what we really mean is we like the person or thing, because the person or thing is good to us; or beneficial or advantageous to us in some way. But how should we as Christians truly love?

As Christians, we can truly love when we remain in Christ’s love, and we can remain in Christ’s love when we keep his commandments, as Jesus reminds us in the Gospel: “Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love,” Not only that, our love needs to be unconditional, even to the extent of sacrificing our lives, as the Gospel reminds us: “A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends.” Love, from a Christian perspective, means that one must put Jesus and others above ourselves, even to the point of losing one’s life for others.

The question we need to ask ourselves is: are we wiling to love totally, unconditionally, willingly and happily? Are we willing to truly love the way God loves us, so that Jesus’ own joy may be in us, and our joy be complete? May we be docile, willing and humble in set ting aside our pride, our ego, and our prejudices, and love all completely, just as Jesus loves all completely.

Dec 27 – Saint John, Apostle, Evangelist – Feast

Posted on by Posted in 27 December, Apostle, Evangelist, Feast, St. John Leave a comment

Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint John the Evangelist. He was the son of Zebedee, a fisherman, brother of Saint James the Great, one of the Sons of Thunder, a disciple of Saint John the Baptist and a friend of Saint Peter the Apostle. He was called by Jesus during the first year of His ministry and traveled everywhere with Him. He took part in the Last Supper. He was the only one of the Twelve who did not forsake the Saviour in the hour of His Passion, standing at the foot of the cross. He was made guardian of Our Lady by Jesus and took her into his home. Upon hearing of the Resurrection, he was the first to reach the tomb and when he met the Risen Lord at the Lake of Tiberias, he was the first to recognise Him. How was he able to go through all these events and situations? Because ultimately, Saint John the Evangelist showed and taught us what it really means to love.

The word “love” has been used and abused so rampantly, that it may have lost its meaning. This is because, if you really and truly love someone, you will do anything and everything for his or her best, even to the point of sacrificing your very own life like Jesus and many others did. Such love is expensive, costly and not easy to find, since the one who loves is putting everything at stake, no holding back, no hesitation. In the case of Saint John the Evangelist, it is such expensive love which was his guiding principle or motto, and it is what we should follow or emulate. May we learn to love with such intensity, genuineness and courage, that others may come to know the love of Christ.

Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle – Feast

Posted on by Posted in Apostle, Conversion, Feast, St. Paul Leave a comment

Every once and a while, we come across a person who seems so impossible to like or deal with. Such a person could be quite obnoxious, or nasty, or mean, or even dangerous to our lives. Some of us may try to avoid such a person, or keep the person at arms length. Some of us even think that such a person is a goner, or beyond redemption. But sometimes, God works in strange ways, and persons who were once obnoxious, nasty, mean or dangerous could be transformed into something better for His glory.

One such person who was transformed is Saint Paul, whose conversion we celebrate today. Paul was once threatening Christians, and even throwing them into prison. But God had other plans for Paul, and he was totally transformed from a monstrosity to a stalwart defender of the faith. Just imagine, if God can transform a person like Paul, how much more could He transform the persons around us who are a pain or a thorn to us. May we never lose hope and remain steadfast in our trust and dependence in God, knowing that He would help us and transform us, including those who have been difficult, into something better.

Saints Philip and James, Apostles – Feast

Posted on by Posted in Apostle, Feast, Sts. Philip and James Leave a comment

In every Christian community, there needs to be a balance of missionary spirit and community life. We cannot ignore one or the other. If we focus only in mission, we may forget our identity as Christians, that is we are Christians not as individuals, but as a community. On the other hand, if we focus too much on the Christian community, we may neglect our mission in bringing the Good News to all. So, we need to be balanced as a Christian community and as Christian missionaries, since both are needed for us Christians to grow and flourish.

Today we celebrate the feast of Saints Philip and James. St. Philip was the one who sincerely and joyfully told Nathanael that he had found the Messiah and encouraged him to come and see for himself. Yet it was also this same Philip, as mentioned in today’s Gospel, who asked Jesus to let him see God the Father so that he will be satisfied. James (the Lesser) was the apostle who, together with St. Peter, settled the issue about accepting non-Jews into the faith without having to be circumcised and taught the Law of Moses.

In St. Philip and St. James, we see the missionary aspect and the community aspect of the Christian community which needs to be addressed and balanced. St. Philip showed us an example the missionary aspect by bringing others to Jesus, Nathanael in this case. St. James showed us an example of the community aspect, by making a decision which affected the growth and well-being of the community, by not imposing non-essential customs and practices on the non-Jews. May we learn, through the example of Saints Philip and James, how to strike a balance between missionary spirit and community life, so that we as a Christian community could grow more like our Lord Jesus Christ.

Chair of Saint Peter, The Apostle – Feast

Posted on by Posted in Apostle, Chair, Feast, St. Peter Leave a comment

Those of us who have worked in the business world would know that management and marketing skills are much needed. It is not enough for us to just have a good product, it is also necessary to know how to market and sell the product, so that the company would make money and rake in profits. If the management and marketing is done effectively, and certain targets have been met, then employees would stand a good chance of getting an increment or bonus.

The church too has got certain management and marketing principles which can be found in today’s reading, but for a different purpose. In the reading, St. Paul reminds us: “Be the shepherds of the flock of God that is entrusted to you: watch over it, not simply as a duty but gladly, because God wants it; not for sordid money, but because you are eager to do it. Never be a dictator over any group that is put in your charge, but be an example that the whole flock can follow.” In the case of the church, the goal is not to make money and rake in profits, but to care for God’s people and proclaim the Good News to all.

But such a task is not easy because of human frailty and weakness. This is where we need to depend on the grace of God, and to pray for the Holy Father, church leaders and even for ourselves, that we would be humble and willing to persevere in our efforts to be witnesses of God’s love and presence in the world, so that others will come to know who is Jesus Christ.

Dec 27 – Saint John, Apostle, Evangelist – Feast

Posted on by Posted in 27 December, Apostle, Evangelist, Feast, St. John Leave a comment

Today we celebrate the feast of the Apostle John. He is accredited for writing the Gospel according to John. He was the only apostle who was not martyred. We also know that John was given the responsibility by Jesus to care for Mother Mary, when Jesus was about to die. He is known as the “beloved disciple” and in today’s Gospel, we are told that he went in the tomb; he saw and he believed that Jesus had risen.

Throughout his life and writings, he had one simple message: “My dear children, love one another.” God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son. John followed God’s example in sharing love with others through his example and in his writings. What about us? In this world where love seems more and more superficial, are we following St. John’s example in spreading true love to all?

Saint Andrew, Apostle – Feast

Posted on by Posted in Apostle, Feast, Saint Andrew Leave a comment

Letting go of our old life or old ways of doing things is not easy. Some of us have become so fixated or set in doing certain things in certain ways that it seems difficult or impossible to do things differently or begin new ventures. But the fact is, change happens. What used to be relevant or important in the past is no longer the case today. Things and ideas can become obsolete, and it is necessary for us to change or we may lose out in new and better opportunities.

In today’s Gospel, “Jesus saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew; they were making a cast in the lake with their net, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’ And they left their nets at once and followed him.” Jesus may be calling you today to leave your nets, to change, to move on, and to follow Him. Would you be willing to change and let Him be your help and guide?

Saint Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist – Feast

Posted on by Posted in Apostle, Evangelist, Feast, St. Matthew Leave a comment

There are certain kinds of people in this world which are difficult for some to accept and like. It could be the person’s character or attitude, it could be the person’s behaviour, or it could even be the person’s job or way of life. For example, how many of us are genuinely willing to show care and concern to prostitutes if one happens to come to us for help, especially when the person is wanting to change to a different and better way of life? Would we be willing to help? Or have we become prejudiced towards such persons and prefer to shun them?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus called a tax collector named Matthew to follow Him, and Matthew got up and followed him. Tax collectors were hated and shunned by the Jews, because they not only collected money from the Jews for the Romans, but they were also allowed to collect more (which could range from a bit more to a lot more) for their own survival. But Jesus was not only willing to call Matthew to follow Him, He was also willing to eat with the tax collectors and sinners. Eating with tax collectors and sinners was an unthinkable and shocking thing to the Jews, especially among the scribes and Pharisees, since they thought that people would normally eat only with good friends or close friends. But Jesus reminded them: “It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. Go and learn the meaning of the words: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. And indeed I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.”

What about us? Are we willing to offer our time with the tax collectors and sinners around us? Are we willing to eat with them, reach out to them, be a friend to them, and help them out? Or have we become like the scribes and Pharisees, self-righteous and only knowing how to condemn others? Remember that we too are sinners, and if God can be loving and merciful to us, shouldn’t we be doing the same towards others?

St. Bartholomew, Apostle – Feast

Posted on by Posted in Apostle, Feast, St. Bartholomew Leave a comment

From time to time, some of us may have been guilty of judging others just by looking at them or hearing about them. Sometimes what we see or hear could have been coloured with prejudiced eyes and ears, and unless we are open to the promptings of God’s spirit, we may fail to discover and appreciate another person’s character, talent and capabilities.

In today’s Gospel, St Bartholomew did not initially have a good impression of Jesus or Nazareth. Hearing that Jesus was from Nazareth, he asked, “What good can come out of Nazareth?” He said this because Nazareth was a small, insignificant place, and to the Jews, it seemed unlikely that the Messiah would come from there. St Bartholomew was not despising Jesus or even Nazareth for that matter, but he was just being frank and straightforward, and Jesus recognised that in St Bartholomew when He said that St Bartholomew was incapable of deceit. Not only that, Jesus saw that St Bartholomew was sincere and that he awaited for the coming of the Messiah, since St Bartholomew was found “under the fig tree,” at prayer and open to the Lord. Eventually, St Bartholomew was humble and open enough to recognise Jesus as the Son of God and the King of Israel.

Some of us too may have been like St Bartholomew at some point of our lives. We may have had not quite a good impression of someone initially, because of what we may heard about the person or where the person came from. Let us pray that, like St Bartholomew, we would eventually see the good in others, just as Jesus sees the good in each of us.

St. James, Apostle – Feast

Posted on by Posted in Apostle, Feast, St. James Leave a comment

What do we seek in this life? Do we seek glory, power, prestige, fame, personal glory, personal gratification, recognition from others? Or do we seek to do God’s will for His glory? Some of us may say that we are seeking to do God’s will, but do our words and actions show that we truly and sincerely are seeking to do God’s will?

In today’s Gospel, we come across St. James whose Feast we celebrate today, and his brother John, the two sons of Zebedee, who tried to get Jesus to grant them important seats or positions in heaven, one on Jesus’ left, and one on Jesus’ right. But what James and John failed to realise is that ultimately, it is not their personal glory or prestige that matters, but what matters is doing all things for the glory of God. Jesus reminded the twelve that “anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Moreover, St. Paul reminds us that “we are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us.”

This means that, what we should be striving for is to serve and not to be served, and that we are merely instruments to be used for the glory of God. May we be humble and willing to let God use us for His glory, so that through us, others may come to know Him and walk in His ways.