For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
23 March 2014 – 3rd Sunday of Lent Year A
24 March 2014 – Monday of the 3rd Week of Lent
25 March 2014 – The Annunciation of the Lord – Solemnity
26 March 2014 – Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Lent
27 March 2014 – Thursday of the 3rd Week of Lent
28 March 2014 – Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent
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?
Pride and stubbornness are two great obstacles to our spiritual growth and good relationship with God. When we are proud, we think that we are ok and there is nothing for us to improve on. When we are stubborn, we think that only our way is the right way and we go through great extent to protect our way. This leads to contempt, arrogance, aloofness and a whole list of other attitudes which not only alienate us from God, but also from our fellow humans.
Today’s reading reminds us of how the Israelites were so proud and stubborn, refusing to listen to God’s voice. We too may, in one way or another, be just as guilty. Are we still continuing on such attitude and behaviour, leading to our own self-inflicted ruin? Or have we learnt to wisen up and walk humbly before God, with hope of being Him with eternally? Let us not be fooled and complacent, and choose rightly.
Laws and customs are there for a purpose. If we do not have laws and customs, we may descend into chaos. Each person may end up doing as one pleases. People become fearful because of uncertainty. This is why in today’s reading we are reminded: “take notice of the laws and customs that I teach you today, and observe them, that you may have life…” When we take notice of the laws and customs, we are set free and we have life, because we know what is ok and what is not ok.
In the Gospel, Jesus too reminds us that we take notice of the laws and customs when he said: “Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them.” Jesus reminded us of a simple summary of the laws and customs when he taught us to love God and love neighbour. This means that laws and customs are not to be disregarded but to be followed. Are we aware of what are God’s laws and customs, and are we doing our utmost best to follow them?
Some people say that familiarity breeds contempt. When you think you know a person well enough, you may be less likely to listen to him or her, and you may think that that person is not that great or wonderful. In today’s Gospel, Jesus said, “I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country.” To a certain extend, this seems true. This is one of the reasons why a priest or a religious is rarely sent to his or her home town, as the local people there may be less willing or open to listen and work with the local boy or girl.
However, familiarity does not necessarily breed contempt. The issue at stake is whether we are willing to see a person with neutral eyes and hearts. Yes, the person may have been born and raised at that place, we may have known the person and seen the person grow through the years. But that does not mean we know the person absolutely, 100%, completely. The person may have gifts, talents, or abilities which may have escaped our attention due to our personal pride, prejudice and coloured vision. Are we willing to open the eyes of our hearts and be humble enough to support our local boys and girls, who for one reason or another have been sent back to home territory to serve and care for us? Let us do our part and grow in love with all.
Some of us will never be satisfied. We crave for so many things. Our list of needs and wants keep piling up, and it seems as if we will never be able to fulfil all our needs and wants. We become unhappy and dissatisfied. It seems as if the more we need and want, the harder it becomes for us to be content.
Today’s readings uses water to symbolise God’s love and care for us. We can survive without food for some time, but we cannot survive for long if we do not have water. In the same way, we cannot survive for long if we do not have God’s love and care. Without water, we will eventually die. Without God, we will die an eternal death.
Everything that we strive for to fulfil our needs and wants is only temporary. But what God offers us is a living water which will quench our thirst, and satisfy us completely. The Samaritan woman in today’s Gospel was offered that living water of God’s love and forgiveness, even though the people in her town had shunned her. With this living water, we will never be thirsty again. With this living water, we would not need other temporary substitutes. Are we still stubbornly looking elsewhere?
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
16 March 2014 – 2nd Sunday of Lent Year A
17 March 2014 – Monday of the 2nd Week of Lent
18 March 2014 – Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Lent
19 March 2014 – Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Solemnity
20 March 2014 – Thursday of the 2nd Week of Lent
21 March 2014 – Friday of the 2nd Week of Lent
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?
Some people can be difficult to understand or comprehend. They may put on appearance and masquerade in one way, but the fact of the matter is they are not who we may think they are. There is more than meets the eye, and it takes much observation to figure out their true intentions. Sometimes they are so adept in cloaking their true self that many could be easily fooled by them. It takes a trained eye and a discerning heart to penetrate through their facade.
But though such people can fool others, they cannot fool God. Today’s reading tells us: “The heart is more devious than any other thing, perverse too: who can pierce its secrets? I, the Lord, search to the heart, I probe the loins, to give each man what his conduct and his actions deserve.” We can try to appear to be good, holy, respectable, etc., but God can clearly see whether we are genuine people or fake people. The question is: are we going to continue to portray a false image of ourselves for our own glory and win the admiration of others, or are we willing to come to terms with our true selves and walk humbly before God?
Throughout our lives. we will face many challenges and obstacles. We may commit sin, but we are constantly reminded to go for confession and do our best to be in good relationship with God and with all around us. Our God is patient and loving, even though at times, some of us may behave in such a manner which could make us wonder if we are doomed and condemned. However, until we die, we still have opportunities to seek forgiveness, reconciliation and move on.
In today’s reading, God assures us: “Come now, let us talk this over, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing to obey, you shall eat the good things of the earth. But if you persist in rebellion, the sword shall eat you instead.” Are we still refusing to walk in His ways? God has not given up on us, and we should not give up also. Let us choose to obey Him and let Him care for us.
