Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: Friday

Friday of Week 1 Year 1

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After a long day at work or at school, I believe that most of us would want to go home for some peace and quiet, and to have some rest. We are not robots, and we need to recuperate from a heavy day, or we may feel fatique, tired or even may be stricken with some sort of disease or illness. Even robots and machines need rest, or their operational usefulness may be shortened due to wear and tear. But where is our home, really? Is earth really our home? We know that our being here is only temporary, so what have we been preparing for our true home?

In today’s reading, we are reminded: “Be careful: the promise of reaching the place of rest that God had for the Israelites still holds good, and none of you must think that he has come too late for it… We must therefore do everything we can to reach this place of rest, or some of you might copy this example of disobedience and be lost.” God is beckoning us to come home to our true home and be with Him, but going to our true home requires effort on our part. Have we been doing our part, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, in preparation to return to our true home?

Friday of the 3rd Week of Advent

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Every once in a while, we come across certain so called religious groups who claim that only their group are eligible to be with God in heaven. These people so easily and conveniently condemn others, saying that unless one joins their group or follow certain ways, one would be condemned to hell. Such persons even misquote certain scripture passages to prove and back up their claims. However, we should take caution and watch out for such persons, since they may have a hidden agenda and we should not fall for their gimmicks.

In today’s reading, we are assured: “Foreigners who have attached themselves to the Lord to serve him and to love his name and be his servants – all who observe the sabbath, not profaning it, and cling to my covenant – these I will bring to my holy mountain. I will make them joyful in my house of prayer. Their holocausts and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples. It is the Lord who speaks, who gathers the outcasts of Israel: there are others will gather besides those already gathered.”

God is not restricted only to certain groups or if one follows certain ways, but anyone who attaches themselves to the Lord is acceptable to Him. Let us not so easily and conveniently condemn others just because they think differently or pray differently than we do, but build peace and harmony among all, while giving Gof the glory in all we do.

Friday of the 1st Week of Advent

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How confident and trusting are we towards God, when we ask Him to grant us our wants and needs? Some of us say we are confident, but we get disappointed so easily when our prayers are not answered quickly. Some of us do not even bother to ask, and go looking elsewhere for help, only to find that these other means are really no help at all. How many of us sincerely and persistently ask, and then wait patiently for God’s response?

In today’s Gospel. two blind men followed Jesus shouting, “Take pity on us, Son of David.” These blind men did not just sit around and expect Jesus to heal them, they took effort to follow Jesus till He reached the house.The Gospel also tells us: “Jesus asked them: ‘Do you believe I can do this?’ They said, ‘Sir, we do.’ Then he touched their eyes saying, ‘Your faith deserves it, so let this be done for you.’ And their sight returned.” These two blind men were cured because they had complete confidence and trust in Jesus. What about us? Would we have the same confidence like these two blind men, when we ask Jesus for something? May we doubt no longer, and let Jesus be in control, knowing that He will grant us what is best for us.

Friday of Week 34 Year 2

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For some of us, a vision could be seen as a warning or reminder to behave or to be good, otherwise some calamity or disaster may occur. However, visions need not necessarily be seen in that way. When a vision occurs, it could also be seen as a prompting from God, inviting us to look into our lives and grow closer to Him. God is reaching out to us, giving us opportunities to walk in His ways, trust in His providence, and let Him be our help and guide.

In today’s reading, John had a vision where he “saw the dead, both great and small, standing in front of his throne, while the book of life was opened, and other books opened which were the record of what they had done in their lives, by which the dead were judged.” John also saw in his vision a burning lake which is the second death “and anybody whose name could not be found written in the book of life was thrown into the burning lake.” If we have been consistent, committed and persistent in our efforts to grow in relationship with God, then such visions should not startle us or cause us to fear, since we can be confident and trust that God will take care of us. God is inviting us to live, it is up to us to accept His invitation and be alive in His love.

Friday of Week 33 Year 2

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What sort of lives do we want to live? Do we want to live good and holy lives? Or do we want to live according to the ways of the world? Sometimes, we come across people who try to live good and holy lives, but they begin to be influenced with what others think, or what is the latest fashion or style, or they try to fit into the crowd instead of standing out and being oneself. When such persons try to fit in, they have allowed themselves to succumb to peer pressure, since they want to stay in with the crowd, they want to be accepted, they don’t want to be the odd-one out. But is this right Christian living, especially if by succumbing to peer pressure, it might mean keeping silent and not doing anything even when we see injustice, oppression and corruption happening?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus chose to not fit in. He could have easily closed one eye, played safe, keep cool and look away from the injustice and corruption happening in the Temple. But Jesus would not put up with such nonsense in the Temple. He drove out the injustice and corruption from the holy place, and restored the Temple to its dignity. As a result, Jesus incurred the wrath of those who were already against Him.

What about us? Are we going to ignore the injustice, oppression and corruption happening around us? Are we going to mind our own business and let others do the fighting? May we follow the example of our loving Saviour, who showed us what being a Christian is all about, by doing what is right and just, for the glory of God.

Friday of Week 32 Year 2

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In today’s world, we have easy access to information, especially from the internet. But not everything posted or shared on the internet is true. Some people may have posted things which are lies, rubbish, nonsense or deceiving. Some of such persons do so for many reasons, including the intention to lead astray and bring about confusion. Some people even utter teachings which seem contrary or somewhat different to what Jesus taught, especially because they have picked and chosen what they want or like to hear or what suits them, and refuse to admit the truth. When we are faced with such a situation,what do we do?

In today’s reading, John warns us: “There are many deceivers about in the world, refusing to admit that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. They are the Deceiver; they are the Antichrist. Watch yourselves, or all our work will be lost and not get the reward it deserves. If anybody does not keep within the teaching of Christ but goes beyond it, he cannot have God with him: only those who keep to what he taught can have the Father and the Son with them.”

This is why we should not blindly agree to what certains persons have written or said, even though they may be so called persons of authority or importance. We should make every effort to understand our faith better through the various courses available to us, so that we would not be so easily duped by certain others. We also need to discern what we have heard, and verify its authenticacy. Let us not be so easily taken for a ride, and be vigilant and watch ourselves.

Friday of Week 31 Year 2

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I remember some advertisements on television saying that “Home is where the heart is,” In such advertisements, people are reminded and encouraged to go home to spend some time with their parents or family members, since one day, our parents and some of our family members may no longer be around. But as Christians, do we know where is our true home?

St. Paul in today’s reading reminds us that our home on earth is only temporary. He tells us: “For us, our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the saviour we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. He will do that by the same power with which he can subdue the whole universe. So then, my brothers and dear friends, do not give way but remain faithful in the Lord.” How prepared are we to return to our true homeland? In our quest for happiness, we may have invested much time and effort in building our temporary home here on earth. How much time and effort have we put in preparing to return to our permanent home?

Friday of Week 29 Year 2

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Before a person becomes a priest or a religious, the person would have gone through many years of formation, as part of a discernment process on whether the person is really suitable for priesthood or religious life. When a person has applied to enter the seminary or formation house and has been accepted, then it is the person’s responsibility to be committed in going through the formation. This means that the person should not treat formation lightly, and do his or her best to discern carefully and continuously whether such a life is what he or she really wants. Once the person is ordained or has made the final profession, then the person should remain committed to his or her vocation. Likewise, a person who chooses to get married should be committed in staying married.

In today’s reading, St. Paul implores 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. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called.” St. Paul is reminding us to be true and committed to the vocation we have chosen, since vocation is a life-long commitment and not something we can change as if we are changing clothes. Let us not be hypocrites in the way we live, but be genuine and true to our vocation.

Friday of Week 28 Year 2

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Are you a hypocrite? Do you do things for show, or do you practise what you preach? People are hypocrites when they are not being real, they put on a show but in actuality are not who or what they really are, and do not practise what they preach. Could you be guilty of hypocrisy in some form?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us to “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees – that is, their hypocrisy. Everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear.” We need to be truthful and honest about ourselves: are we really being who we are? Are we saying and doing things for our own benefit and glory, or just to sound good or look good, or just to please others? Are we being blind guides and causing others to stray? We may think we can run, but we cannot hide forever. One day we would need to give an account of our attitude, behaviour and conduct. When that happens, what would the consequences be? Jesus cautions us in the Gospel: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. I will tell you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has the power to cast into hell.” Let us thus be true, be real, be genuine in what we say and do, and make every effort and without pretense to walk humbly in God’s presence, learning to love all, while trusting and depending on Him.

Friday of Week 26 Year 2

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Some of us, at some point of our lives, may have been guilty of saying too much. Sometimes, we think we know it all, and try to show how much we know or how clever we are by giving comments, advice, suggestions, or even criticism, even though these were not asked for in the first place.This causes us to get into trouble for saying or asking certain things which should not be said or asked, or is not for us to be concerned about.

In today’s reading, we are presented with God’s response to Job’s lamentation. Job had lamented why he was going through all sorts of sufferings and calamnities, and was trying to figure out where he had gone wrong. In response, God posed a number of rhetorical questions to Job, all of which are designed to show Job how small he is in relation to God’s plan. In posing such questions to Job, God was reminding Job that His wisdom isn’t like human wisdom; His ways are not human ways. Faced with such questioning, Job realised that he had said too much, perhaps he had overstep the line, and he said (possibly sheepishly): “My words have been frivolous: what can I reply? I had better lay my finger on my lips. I have spoken once… I will not speak again; more than once… I will add nothing.”

What about us? Have we realised that there are times we have overstep the line? Have we realised that we said too much? Let us learn to know what to say and when to say things, and place our trust in God, knowing that some things are best not asked or said, but trusting and having confidence in His care and providence is the better way to go.