Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: Easter

The Ascension of the Lord – Mass of the Day

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Saying goodbye or farewell is never easy. In some cases, we may get to see the person again only after a long time. In other cases, we may never get to see the person again. Some of us become so attached to the person who is leaving, that it becomes all the more harder to let go. Some may try all sorts of tricks and antics, hoping that the person would change his or her mind and stay. But the reality is, when it is time to leave, it is time to leave.

For forty days, Jesus continued to appear to the disciples to tell them about the kingdom of God. He gave them lots of encouragement and prepared them for His departure. He even assured them: “John baptised with water but you, not many days from now, will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.” Eventually, the day came where Jesus was “lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight.”

When Jesus left them, the disciples were still in a daze. They had not fully comprehended the reality that Jesus was physically gone. The first reading tells us: “They were still staring into the sky when suddenly two men in white were standing near them and they said, ‘Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking into the sky? Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, this same Jesus will come back in the same way as you have seen him go there.’” Once again, the disciples were being reassured that Jesus had left but He would return.

With Jesus gone, the Holy Spirit could come. The pain of separation would soon be replaced with the joy which the Holy Spirit gives us. In today’s Gospel, Jesus told his disciples: “Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.” This is the mission which Jesus entrusted to His disciples; this is the same mission He is entrusting to us now. We are now sent to go forth and proclaim the Good News, but we are not left alone. Jesus is with us always, and the Holy Spirit will guide us and help us. Are we ready to fulfil our destiny as bearers of Good News to all? Let us be not afraid, for God is with us.

Wednesday of the 6th Week of Easter

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Understanding our faith, what we believe in, is not something we can fully comprehend or accept all in one go. Sometimes we need time to slowly digest what we have heard, what we have learnt. Other times, we need to trust and believe, since not everything can be fully explained or understood.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us: “I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now. But when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking as from himself but will say only what he has learnt; and he will tell you of the things to come.” The Spirit of truth is with us, from the time we were baptised and confirmed. The question is: are we patient and persistent enough to let the Spirit guide us? Are we humble enough to trust and believe, even when something seems difficult to accept or comprehend? Let us open our minds and hearts happily and willingly, and let the Spirit lead us.

Tuesday of the 6th Week of Easter

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Each of us (especially those who were baptised as adults) would have had some sort of conversion story. Some stories could be spectacular, others may sound nothing out of the ordinary. However, a conversion story is nevertheless still a grace from God and an opportunity for all to give praise and thanks for God’s love and mercy. Sometimes a conversion story could inspire others who have not been baptised to seriously consider doing so; and also strengthen the resolve and conviction of those already baptised.

In today’s reading, the gaoler had an amazing conversion story. We read: “Late that night Paul and Silas were praying and singing God’s praises, while the other prisoners listened. Suddenly there was an earthquake that shook the prison to its foundations. All the doors flew open and the chains fell from all the prisoners. When the gaoler woke and saw the doors wide open he drew his sword and was about to commit suicide, presuming that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted at the top of his voice, ‘Don’t do yourself any harm; we are all here.’ The gaoler called for lights, then rushed in, threw himself trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas, and escorted them out, saying, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’” What could have turned out to be the gaoler’s untimely death due to suicide, was transformed into a death to his old self and a birth to his new self. The gaoler and all his household were baptised. What an amazing turn of events!

Do we still remember our conversion story and continue to remain in our new selves? Or have we slacken and gradually returned to our old selves? At our baptism, we were enthusiatic and excited to become a child of God, a new creation. Let us not wane in such gusto and enthusiasm.

Monday of the 6th Week of Easter

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As witnesses of Christ, we often face lots of challenges, hardships, difficulties and even dangerous situations. Some of us may find the obstacles too much to handle and may be tempted to give up. Humanly speaking, it is not easy for us to hold on for a long time. However, with God’s help and continuous guidance, we will be able to persevere.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus assures us that He is sending the Advocate (Holy Spirit) to us from the Father. Jesus says: “When the Advocate comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father, he will be my witness. And you too will be witnesses, because you have been with me from the outset. I have told you all this that your faith may not be shaken…” With the Advocate protecting us, there is no reason for us to fear or take flight. So, let us take courage and continue sharing the Good News, knowing that God will be with us all the way.

6th Sunday of Easter Year A

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Supposing one day you receive a letter and in that letter you discover that you had won a prize for a competition you had participated and had forgotten about. How would you feel? Surely you would want to tell your family members and close friends. Or supposing you are a woman and you have been trying for quite a while to conceive, and one fine day you do a pregnancy test and discover that the result is positive, and later confirm the result with the doctor. What would your reaction be? Surely you can’t wait to share the joy with your husband and loved ones.

Good news is not meant to be kept to ourselves. Often we would be happy and eager to share good news with others and invite them to rejoice with us. But what about the Good News of Jesus Christ? All of us, regardless whether we are priests, religious, or lay people, are called and sent forth to preach the Good News. In today’s first reading, we see how Philip took action and went to Samaria to preach the Good News, while working many miracles there. As a result, “the people united in welcoming the message Philip preached, either because they had heard of the miracles he worked or because they saw them for themselves.” In today’s second reading, we are are reminded to “always have your answer ready for people who ask you the reason for the hope that you all have. But give it with courtesy and respect and with a clear conscience…”

The question is this: Are we eager and gung-ho in going forth to preach the Good News? Are we not aware that we should be missionaries of Christ wherever we are and in whatever circumstances we are in? Do we expect only certain folks like our religious and priests to do the work and we take things easy? Being Christian is certainly not easy, and preaching the Good News is also not so easy or straightforward. We may face many obstacles and suffering. However, let us trust in God’s help and as the second reading tells us: “if anyone of you should suffer for being a Christian, then he is not to be ashamed of it; he should thank God that he has been called one.” Are you happy and proud to be a Chrisian, and full of zeal to go forth and preach the Good News?

Housekeeping – 5th Week of Easter

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

18 May 2014 – 5th Sunday of Easter Year A
19 May 2014 – Monday of the 5th Week of Easter
20 May 2014 – Tuesday of the 5th Week of Easter
21 May 2014 – Wednesday of the 5th Week of Easter
22 May 2014 – Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter
23 May 2014 – Friday of the 5th Week of Easter

Friday of the 5th Week of Easter

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Do we truly and really love? Or do we merely “like” or “enjoy” under the appearance of love? Sometimes we come across people who genuinely love others and just as today’s Gospel tells us, they would even be willing to “lay down his life for his friends.” Other times, we come across individuals who love because it is convenient or advantageous to them, or provides self-gratification, but deep down in their hearts there is no love. What about you? Where do you stand?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that we are His friends if we do what He commands us. What did He command us to do? Jesus tells us in the Gospel: “What I command you is to love one another.” Moreover, Jesus has chosen us; and commissioned us to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last. Are we loving others and sharing Jesus’ love with others, just as Jesus loves us? Or are we hoarding love only for ourselves? Is our love genuine? Or has our love become more and more selfish or self-centred? We may appear to be able to hide our true intentions or true self, but we cannot run away from the “fruit” of our “love.”

Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter

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Being a Christian in this world is not easy. On the one hand, we want to succeed and prosper. On the other hand, we are reminded time and time again to keep God’s commandments. Sometimes the things we are asked to perform in the world may be in conflict with God’s commandments. If we choose to perform the task, we would be breaking a commandment of God. If we choose not to perform the task, we may lose our status, our popularity, our financial security, our prosperity, and even our lives. If faced with such a situation, what would you do?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus said to his disciples: “Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete.” What do we want? Eternal joy or eternal sadness? The joy we experience in this world is only temporary. After a while, we would need to find other ways and means to remain joyful. In fact, we may never attain complete joy. However, Jesus is offering a kind of joy which is complete. We can receive this joy which He offers us if we keep God’s commandments and remain in His love. If that is so, why do we still stubbornly insist in seeking temporary things of this world while slacking in seeking eternal things out of this world? Don’t we value and want the joy Jesus offers us?

Wednesday of the 5th Week of Easter

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Are we part of Jesus’ vine? Or have we drifted away from Him. Some of us think that we are part of Jesus’ vine, but the reality is that some of us have chosen to be apart from Him, or we have drifted away from Him due to our neglect, or due to our attitudes and behaviour. In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us: “Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing.” We may appear to be doing good or charitable things, but we could still be apart from Jesus. We could appear to be respectable people, but we could still be cut off from Jesus. How so? By looking at the fruits and motivation of what we are doing and why we are doing such things. Some of us are doing things for our own glory or for our own personal gratification, under the pretence of appearing helpful, respectable, good or charitable.

Ultimately, whether we are remaining in Christ or otherwise can be summed up in what Jesus tells us: “It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit, and then you will be my disciples.” The glory is to God, not to ourselves. The question is: are we really remaining in Jesus?

Tuesday of the 5th Week of Easter

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Suffering and hardship are some of the many things we may experience as Christians. Some of us may not necessarily experience major suffering or hardship in our lifetime, but we may experience some sort of suffering and hardship, especially in countries where Christians are persecuted or mistreated. Some countries may not necessarily cause suffering and hardship explicitly or directly, but through various subtle ways and means, Christians in those countries may still experience suffering and hardship.

In today’s reading, Paul and Barnabas “put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith. ‘We all have to experience many hardships’ they said ‘before we enter the kingdom of God.’” Despite the many difficulties, sufferings and hardship we may face, are we willing to persevere in the faith as Paul and Barnabas encouraged all of us to do so? It is tempting and seems easy to just run away or abandon our faith. But let us not lose heart; let us remain strong and hopeful for God will care for us.