Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: Friday

Friday of the 4th Week of Easter

Posted on by Posted in 4th, Easter, Easter 4, Friday, Weekday Leave a comment

How much do we trust God? How much do we trust Jesus? We say we trust, but sometimes some of us resort to other ways to get what we want or to reassure or comfort us. Some of us go for feng shui, bomohs, shamans, medicine men, astrologers, etc., thinking that perhaps these may be able to help us, only to be disappointed later or we may end up worse than we initially were.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reassures us: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me.” No matter how difficult or challenging the situation, Jesus can help us. We may not get the sort of help we expect or we may not get the help so quickly, but we will be helped according to what is best for us, since sometimes what we expect is not necessarily suitable or helpful. The question is: are we willing to let God take care of things, or are we always trying to be in control?

Friday of the 3rd Week of Easter

Posted on by Posted in 3rd, Easter, Easter 3, Friday, Weekday Leave a comment

Some of us may have experienced a conversion at some point of our lives. We may have been born in a family of a different faith, and due to some incident, occasion or experience, we may have decided to inquire further of the Christian faith. Then, after much study and reflection, some of us may have decided to be baptised.

Perhaps not many of us would have experienced the sort of conversion which Saul did in today’s reading. Perhaps our conversion story may not have been so dramatic or phenomenal. But the fact is our conversion story must have been so significant or impacted our lives so much that we decided to eventually be baptised, or we may have decided to change our lives and live in a different way, hopefully closer to God. When we experienced a conversion, how did we feel? Were we excited and enthusiastic about the experience? Were we ready and willing to share our experience with others, with the hope that they too may experience conversion in their own way?

When we feel bogged down with challenges in life, perhaps we could recall our conversion stories as a source of inspiration, reminding us that God is moulding us and helping us to grow spiritually. Life is a struggle, but when we recall how God guided us to change our lives, we know that we can depend on His providence. Let us continue to trust and depend on Him. After all, if He can change Saul from a persecutor into a defender of the faith, how much more He can transform us into something better, if we offer ourselves to Him with trust and sincerity.

Friday of the 2nd Week of Easter

Posted on by Posted in 2nd, Easter, Easter 2, Friday, Weekday Leave a comment

Sometimes in life, we get someone who is willing to talk sense or reason out with others for us. Such people know that it is important to have a balance of head knowledge and heart knowledge, so that we would make choices with some clarity and without prejudiced eyes. One such person in today’s reading is a Pharisee called Gamaliel, who was a doctor of the Law and respected by the whole people. Even though the Pharisees were filled with jealousy, Gamaliel was wise enough to caution the Pharisees concerning the apostles: “If this enterprise, this movement of theirs, is of human origin it will break up of its own accord; but if it does in fact come from God you will not only be unable to destroy them, but you might find yourselves fighting against God.”

If someone or some people were to go about doing good things and giving glory to God, would we stop them? Sometimes, because such people are doing better than us or they do not belong to our community, we may become jealous of their success and achievements. What some of us fail to realise is that what they are doing is not necessarily for their own glory, but for the Glory of God. If we begin to find ways and means to belittle them or stop them, then we too may become like the Pharisees, who were blinded with jealousy, anger and pride. Ultimately, we may end up being guilty of building our own kingdom when we think that only we can do good and others are prohibited from doing so. Have some of us become so conceited or proud? Aren’t we all working in the vineyard of the Lord for His greater glory?

Easter Friday

Posted on by Posted in Easter, Easter Octave, Friday Leave a comment

How much do we value our faith? Some of us are Catholics in name, but are we Catholics in practise? If we are interrogated or persecuted, would we still remain firm in faith, or would we run away? If we are sentenced to die, would we remain steadfast till the end, or would we chicken out to save our own skin?

Today’s reading tells us of Peter and John, who were talking to the people, much to the extreme annoyance of the priests, who were accompanied by the captain of the Temple and the Sadducees. Peter and John were arrested and interrogated, but they were ever willing to proclaim the Good News when they said: “For of all the names in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved.” Such courage and perseverance has been demonstrated throughout the centuries, where many men and women have offered their lives and gone forth, just as Peter and John did, to proclaim the Good News to all nations.

Today, we are constantly reminded and encouraged to go forth and proclaim the Good News. Are we doing our part for the greater glory of God?

Friday of the 5th Week of Lent

Posted on by Posted in 5th, Friday, Lent, Lent 5, Weekday Leave a comment

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?

Friday of the 4th Week of Lent

Posted on by Posted in 4th, Friday, Lent, Lent 4, Weekday Leave a comment

Are we blinded with anger, rage and malice? When we are blinded in such ways, we may do things which could only later lead to regret or in other situations, indifference. When we are proud, arrogant, stubborn, or selfish, we could end up being “blind” towards others.

Today’s reading cautions us: “This is the way they reason, but they are misled, their malice makes them blind. They do not know the hidden things of God, they have no hope that holiness will be rewarded, they can see no reward for blameless souls.” When we are unable to appreciate the goodness in others and their capabilities, when we refuse to admit our faults and shortcomings, when we become self-absorbed with our achievements, then we may become “blind” with jealousy which may lead to malice. We may begin to put other people down because we do not want competition and want to look good. Ultimately, we may end up trying to build our own kingdom. Have some of us fallen into such a state? Let us open our eyes, minds and hearts, and stay on our guard from being dragged into such a state.

Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent

Posted on by Posted in 3rd, Friday, Lent, Lent 3, Weekday Leave a comment

Sometimes we forget the basic principles of how we ought to live. When we do things, we may be so focused in only our wants, needs and happiness, that others may be sidelined or forgotten. Some of us use people only when it benefits us and once we have achieved our objectives, we just throw them away or put them aside only to be used again later.

Today’s Gospel reminds us that God “is one and there is no other. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, this is far more important than any holocaust or sacrifice.” Do we really, genuinely and unconditionally love our neighbour? Or do we love our neighbour only when they are useful to us? Or do we love all, regardless of who they are? The same principle applies when we say we love God. Do we love God only because He is good to us? Or do we really, genuinely and unconditionally love Him “with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength?” It seems easy and convenient to say that we love, but is our love merely words or just for show?

Friday of the 2nd Week of Lent

Posted on by Posted in 2nd, Friday, Lent, Lent 2, Weekday Leave a comment

Jealousy can kill. People can commit hideous acts out of jealousy. Today’s reading shows us a classic example of jealousy. In today’s reading: “Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons, for he was the son of his old age, and he had a coat with long sleeves made for him. But his brothers, seeing how his father loved him more than all his other sons, came to hate him so much that they could not say a civil word to him.”

See how jealousy can cause us to behave in a crazy manner? Just because Israel loved Joseph more, the other brothers hated him so much that they could not say a civil word to him. They even tried to kill him but fortunately, one of the brothers named Reuben had some sense and prevented them from doing so. When we are jealous, we too could do crazy things, stupid things, only to realise our folly when it is too late. Some of us may even try to sweep our deed under the carpet, hoping that no one would notice and hoping that the deed would be forgotten. But no, the consequences of our jealousy will come back to haunt us in one way or another. When will we ever learn to be content and happy with who we are, what we have?

Friday of the 1st Week of Lent

Posted on by Posted in 1st, Friday, Lent, Lent 1, Weekday Leave a comment

Are there some among us who still harbour anger and hatred towards a brother or sister? Perhaps a family member or friend may have hurt us so badly that we find it extremely difficult to forgive, reconcile and move on. We begin a tirade of excuses, justifying our enmity with such people, and we behave as if we are the victim (even though, at times, we could be just as guilty by the way we behave). The question is: how can we continue to pray in church, and especially how can we pray the Lord’s Prayer or Our Father, when we still have such rage and anger in our hearts?

Today’s Gospel reminds us: “If you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.” Why are we still so stubborn, so obstinate, so unwilling to forgive, reconcile and move on? Are we allowing pride and prejudice to rule our minds and hearts? Let us think carefully and change our behaviour and attitude, while we have the time and opportunity to do so.

Friday after Ash Wednesday

Posted on by Posted in Ash Wednesday, Friday, Lent Leave a comment

How do you fast? Some people eat less, some avoid certain types of food or drink for a period of time, some do not eat anything for a period of time. But can you tell whether a person is fasting? For some, fasting is a real pain and they put on a “sour face” or “monkey face” to show that they are fasting. Some look listless or seem to have no energy while fasting. How many of us fast cheerfully and discreetly?

Today’s reading tells us about the type of fasting the Lord expects of us: “to break unjust fetters and undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke, to share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor, to clothe the man you see to be naked and not turn from your own kin?” If we fast to put on a show, then what is the point of fasting? Also, if we fast but treat others badly, how different are we compared to others? Let us learn to fast happily and with compassion towards others, so that “your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over. Your integrity will go before you and the glory of the Lord behind you.”