Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: Feast

Saint Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist – Feast

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

Every once in a while, we come across people who try to show their authority or their importance in church. Such people go through great effort to tell others how important they are, or how close they are to the bishop or parish priest, or how vital they are to keep a certain church ministry functioning. Some of us find such people quite obnoxious, since they seem to be trying so hard to be in the limelight and they make a big show on whatever they do. But as Christians, what sort of attitude should we have towards our role and responsibility in a ministry or as a church?

In today’s reading, St. Paul reminds us: “I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together… Each one of us, however, has been given his own share of grace, given as Christ allotted it. To some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some, evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ.”

As Christians, our duty is to serve in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience, as St. Paul reminds us. If our motivation is to draw attention to ourselves while we serve, then are we serving the Lord, or are we actually serving ourselves? Let us check ourselves and be reminded that ultimately, all that we do ought not to be for our personal glorification or gratification, but for the glory of God.

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Posted on by Posted in Exaltation, Feast, Holy Cross Leave a comment

Why do we give so much honour to the Holy Cross? Besides being the symbol of Christianity, the Holy Cross brings to light many fundamental truths taught by the Catholic Church. It is the symbol of Divine Love: for God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. It is the symbol of salvation: through Jesus Christ and the Sacrament of Baptism, those who believe in Him and obey His teachings, will enjoy eternal life in the Kingdom of God. It is also the symbol of Divine compassion: God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but in order that the world may be saved through Jesus.

Everywhere we look, the symbol of the Holy Cross is present to remind us of the infinite sacrifice Jesus did for our redemption. The sign of the Cross is found in the Sacred Liturgy. The Cross is in all Christian festivals. It is in the Rite of Adoration and is the symbol of blessing. It is found in the dedication of Churches, in certain Christian schools, homes, in certain Christian hospitals, seminaries, convents, Religious Orders, and even in cemeteries. In many places, we would come across the Holy Cross in its various designs and forms.

Today, let us look up to the Holy Cross as our symbol of faith and salvation. Let us always honour the work of Christ that was manifested through the Holy Cross, the true symbol of love, compassion and forgiveness. Let us too learn to take up our cross and follow Jesus, learning from Him and spreading His Good News to all the ends of the earth.

Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Feast

Posted on by Posted in Birthday, Blessed Virgin Mary, Feast Leave a comment

Some of us may be thinking that we are nobodies, that we are small and insignificant, and we would have thought that our opinions do not matter, since we do not seem to have any clout, power, popularity or so-called authority. What we may have failed to realise is that sometimes, people who seem to be nobodies could be just as wise or even wiser in their thoughts and their conduct. Just because such people have nothing of value or significance in the eyes of the world, we may have brushed them off or not taken them seriously, when in reality, their value or significance can be seen if we look deeper with eyes of faith.

In today’s reading, we are told of Bethlehem which to the Israelites was a small and insignificant place. But as the reading tells us: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, the least of the clans of Judah, out of you will be born for me the one who is to rule over Israel; his origin goes back to the distant past, to the days of old… He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord, with the majesty of the name of his God. They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power to the ends of the land. He himself will be peace.” From what seems like such a small and insignificant place, our Saviour Jesus was born. From such a place where nobody would have given any thought of, our King of kings and Prince of Peace came forth to bring the Good News of God’s salvation to all.

This is why we should never take for granted other people. Take the example of mother Mary whose birthday we celebrate today. To others, she was just like any other Jewish girl, nothing great or important. But God made her the mother of His Son, Jesus, and mother of God. God had transformed what people think as insignificant, to become significant and important, if we look with eyes of faith and trust. Let us be thankful and grateful to God for the gift of mother Mary, and also the gift of each and every one of us, because all of us are made in His image, and we are important and significant in the eyes of God.

Housekeeping – Week 21 Year 1

Posted on by Posted in Feast, Housekeeping, Ordinary Time, St. Bartholomew, Sunday, Weekday Leave a comment

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

23 Aug 2015 – 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
24 Aug 2015 – St. Bartholomew, Apostle – Feast
25 Aug 2015 – Tuesday of Week 21 Year 1
26 Aug 2015 – Wednesday of Week 21 Year 1
27 Aug 2015 – Thursday of Week 21 Year 1
28 Aug 2015 – Friday of Week 21 Year 1

St. Bartholomew, Apostle – Feast

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

We sometimes hear the words “don’t judge a book by its cover.” What this basically means is that we cannot judge the quality or character of someone or something 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, we come across St Bartholomew (also known as Nathaniel) who was from Cana in Galilee. From the Gospel, it appears as if St Bartholomew did not initially have a good impression of Jesus or Nazareth. When he heard that Jesus was from Nazareth, he asked, “What good can come out of Nazareth?” St Bartholomew said this not because he despised Jesus or even Nazareth, but because Nazareth was a small, insignificant place, and to the Jews, it seemed unlikely that the Messiah would come from there. St Bartholomew 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 more in St Bartholomew; He saw that he 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 and “don’t judge a book by its cover,” just as Jesus sees the good in each of us.

Saint Laurence, Deacon, Martyr – Feast

Posted on by Posted in Deacon, Feast, Martyr, St. Laurence Leave a comment

Every once in a while, I notice some people being quite tight or stingy with their time, finances and wealth. Some of such people would demand many things from the church, but when they are asked to help or contribute, they would give a thousand and one excuses. It is quite interesting to see some of them putting in only a ringgit (Malaysian currency) or two into the collection (some of us padres can see pretty well from the sanctuary you know), and yet some of these folks would ask for this or for that. I recall one parish where some folks had plenty of suggestions on how to improve the church, including installing air-conditioning, so that the faithful would not be so affected by the heat. When asked whether they would be willing to contribute or donate towards the purchase, maintenance and electricity bill for such air-conditioning, these folks immediately backed away and tried to pretend that such conversation never took place. Indeed, it seems easy to ask for so many things, but how many are willing to do their part and be generous, for the good of all?

In today’s reading, St. Paul reminds us: “Do not forget: thin sowing means thin reaping; the more you sow, the more you reap. Each one should give what he has decided in his own mind, not grudgingly or because he is made to, for God loves a cheerful giver. And there is no limit to the blessings which God can send you – he will make sure that you will always have all you need for yourselves in every possible circumstance, and still have something to spare for all sorts of good works.”

Certainly, we are not asking people to give beyond their means, though if they choose to do so, it should be done because they want to and not because they feel obliged to or forced to. It is no point giving with a sour face or monkey face, but let us be generous as much as we can, since God has been so generous to us in so many different ways.

The Transfiguration of the Lord, Feast

Posted on by Posted in Feast, Transfiguration Leave a comment

Hear and listen are verbs we use when we refer to our sense of hearing – using our ears. But they have significant differences in meaning. When we hear, it simply means that sounds come into our ears. Hearing is to physically experience the sense of sound. As long as one’s ear and brain are capable of processing sound waves, one can hear. It may not be deliberate. We hear so many different things throughout our lives, throughout each day. When we listen, we try to hear. It involves effort and concentration. We pay attention and try to understand every sound. It is to deliberately apply the ability to hear. One who listens is thinking about what is heard, what it means, how to respond, and whether to continue to listen/pay attention.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Why do we celebrate this feast? Why did Jesus choose this moment to reveal His glory to His disciples? The Transfiguration comes at a time when Jesus was preparing His disciples for His own death. He was also preparing them for serious discipleship, by being prepared to endure the same trials, obstacles, opposition, persecution and even the cross which Jesus would endure. More importantly, the Transfiguration reminded His disciples, and us too, to listen to Jesus and be transformed by His words. Jesus must be the focus of the disciples’ and our lives, and that we should follow the example of mother Mary when she said: “Do whatever He tells you.”

Today, we are challenged by this Feast of the Transfiguration to listen to Jesus. We must listen to Jesus at every moment of our lives. We cannot only listen to Jesus when it suits us, or pick and choose what we want to listen. Rather, we must listen to Him when he challenges us to truly become His disciples, by being humble and willing to take up our crosses and follow him. Are we willing to put aside our ego, prejudices and pride, and really, faithfully and trustingly listen to Jesus?

St. Mary Magdalene, Feast

Posted on by Posted in Feast, St. Mary Magdalene Leave a comment

Today, we celebrate the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene. In the Gospel, we come across Mary Magdalene who came to the tomb while it was still dark. She sees the stone which covered the tomb has been moved away and does not enter. Perhaps, she was afraid, perhaps she was unsure what to expect, but instead of entering the tomb, she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. Sometimes we too are like Mary of Magdalene. Instead of going further to discover what has happened, we choose to run away. We are not prepared to go further or deeper because we fear that we may not find what we were expecting or we fear that we would not be prepared to face what is inside. But unless we are willing to take the risk and enter the tomb, we will always be standing outside speculating, wondering, guessing, never knowing the truth, as we see in what Mary of Magdalene said in the Gospel: “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where they have put him.” It was only when Jesus said to her, “Mary!” that she realised that she was standing face to face with Jesus, and not just the gardener.

Some people go through life without making important decisions; or they stay clear of commitment; or they fear going deeper into any relationship because they are fearful or are not prepared to face the changes that may take place. But unless we are prepared to take the risk, unless we are prepared to make the commitment, unless we are prepared to go deeper or further, we will always remain outside fearful, doubtful and uncertain, and we will be stuck with the question: “What if.” Let us not be afraid, for the Lord is risen and it is the Lord who is calling us to risk it all, and it is the Lord who will be our guide.

Saint Thomas, Apostle – Feast

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

As baptised Christians, we are sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters in Christ. But sometimes some of us forget our identity. Our behaviour, attitude and way of life seems to be in contrast with our identity as Christians. At church, we appear to be good and holy, some seem generous with their offerings; but when we are sent forth to love and serve the Lord after the Sunday Mass is concluded, are we just as good and holy as we were in church?

In today’s reading, we are reminded: “You are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. You are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone.” Since we are citizens, then we should be mindful of our conduct, as the way we behave and act could turn out to be counter-witnessing to the Gospel. Of course, this does not mean that we should follow blindly everything that we are taught. We should also seek clarification and ask questions, so that we would be crystal clear about what is required. St. Thomas, whose feast we celebrate today, is a great example of how we should clarify and question, not so much because we do not believe or have no faith, but more that we would be better informed and our faith strengthened.

Today, let us not forget who we are and act accordingly. Let us be true witnesses of the Gospel, firmly rooted in faith and understanding, and humbly and joyfully go forth to share the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

Birthday of John the Baptist

Posted on by Posted in Birthday, Feast, John the Baptist Leave a comment

Who is John the Baptist? Why are we celebrating His birthday? What is so significant about him? John the Baptist is the last of the Old Testament prophets. At the same time, his ministry begins the New Testament period. Therefore, he is the link between the Old and the New Testament. But is this reason enough to celebrate the feast of his birthday? There is actually more than meets the eye, and we shall soon discover other significant points concerning why we celebrate his birthday.

We celebrate the feast of his birth because we are also called to share in his ministry as a prophet. Each of us is also called by God to his ministry even before we were born, as the prophet Isaiah in the first reading writes: “the Lord called me before I was born, from my mother’s womb he pronounced my name.” This means that we are not the result of some accident, but we are part of God’s plan and have a purpose and a mission in life. Also, we have been called to preach the Good News of God’s salvation. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God has made our mouth a sharp sword or a sharpened arrow. This means that we cannot remain silent and remain hidden in our comfort zone.

Besides that, as God’s servant and prophet, we must remember that our reward comes from the Lord, and we should not expect any other earthly reward or payment for what we do. This means that we must not compromise the truth or allow ourselves to be bribed into diluting the truth, even though there will be people who will not like what we say. Moreover, our role is to bring a message of healing and reconciliation to all, just as John the Baptist preached a message of repentance and reconciliation, and called the people to turn back to God by turning away from their evil ways to prepare for the coming of the Lord.

Ultimately, we are to point the way to Jesus. We must decrease as Jesus increases. Our message and our ministry does not point to ourselves; and we must lead others to Christ, not to ourselves. All these points mentioned are precisely what John the Baptist did, and we are called to do the same by giving glory to God.

Today, as we celebrate the feast of the birthday of John the Baptist, let us learn from his example, for his example is precisely the model of Christian discipleship. May we, like John the Baptist, bear witness to the Light, and prepare others for the Lord.