Category Archives: Ordinary Time

There are so many things around us that need to be done: people to be helped, things to be resolved, family issues to be settled, so many things indeed. But quite often, we do not have enough personnel to attend to these matters. In some places, a priest or a religious has to attend to a huge crowd of faithful. In other places, the faithful are scattered over great distances. At times, it could be quite overwhelming trying to reach out to faithful who are so many or so far away.

This is why Jesus said in today’s Gospel: “The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.” It is not enough to just pray for more “labourers”, we also need to change our mindsets and attitudes. Some of us are quite readily and willing to encourage and pray for other people’s children for a vocation to the priesthood or religious life. But there are still some of us who cling on to our own children and are reluctant to let them answer God’s call. This is where we need to ask ourselves: are we only thinking of ourselves when it comes to our children? Or are we willing to be generous and let them do God’s will?

How much faith do we have in Jesus? How much do we trust Him? Do we have faith in Him and trust Him only a little? Or do we have full faith and trust in Him? Sometimes we say we have full faith and trust in Him, but our attitude, actions and behaviour contradict what we say.

In today’s Gospel, the hæmorrhaging woman was cured because she had full faith that Jesus would cure her by just touching His cloak. The official’s daughter was dead but raised to life because the official had faith that Jesus could save her. Seeing how much faith these people have towards Jesus, what about us? Do we still try to look for other ways and means when we need help? Or are we humble and willing to let Jesus help us?

When we go about in our daily efforts in proclaiming the Good News, who or what sort of group do we go for? Some of us may have become quite comfortable with reaching out to a certain group based on their income level, status, or place of residence. As a result, we may be less inclined to visit areas such as the slum areas, areas which we perceive to be bad or undesirable areas, or even areas which are occupied by squatters. Others may have become quite comfortable with reaching out to a certain language or ethnic group. This may be due to the fact that our language skills may not be so good.

However, today’s Gospel reminds us that Jesus did not come to call the virtuous but sinners. Jesus reminds us that what God wants is mercy, not sacrifice. Often we may offer sacrifice because we have the means to do so or we may be doing so for our own glory, our own gratification. But by being with tax collectors and sinners, the very persons which the Pharisees shunned, Jesus is showing us that we should follow His example and be loving and merciful to these types of people. They are the ones who need spiritual guidance and nourishment, instead of being despised or looked-down upon.

Are we guilty like the Pharisees in picking and choosing only those who seem ok or may later be beneficial to us? Have we forgotten our duty to preach the Good News to all?

How many of us would want to commit evil? Quite likely we would want to do good. But sometimes we may be committing evil when we allow justice and integrity to be distorted or trampled on. We see justice and integrity being abandoned or misused, all for our personal gain or gratification. This is why today’s reading admonishes us: “I hate and despise your feasts, I take no pleasure in your solemn festivals. When you offer me holocausts, I reject your oblations, and refuse to look at your sacrifices of fattened cattle. Let me have no more of the din of your chanting, no more of your strumming on harps. But let justice flow like water, and integrity like an unfailing stream.”

We can put on a show or appear to be holy and participating in various religious events, but all this would not mean anything if justice and integrity is abandoned or forgotten. Let us be mindful and take care that justice and integrity is upheld in whatever we do.

There are times we are in a difficult or dangerous situation or put in a spot. When we are faced with such situations, some of us may begin to worry, some may even begin to despair, thinking that all is lost. Some of us may be tempted to give up the faith, thinking that we could save our skin by doing so, especially when facing persecution or even the possibility of death.

However, today’s Gospel reassures us that Jesus is there to guide us and weather out the storm. We may face all sorts of storms in life, but are we willing to put our trust in Jesus and let Him help us? He admonished the disciples, and also admonishes us: “Why are you so frightened, you men of little faith?” Why are some of us still afraid? Don’t we trust in Jesus?

One of the hardest things we need to do as Christians is the ability and willingness to let go. In this world, we are so used to having property or possessions, titles or positions, or even people who mean a lot to us or are close to us. If we are told by Jesus to let go of these things and people for the sake of the Gospel, would we be willing and humble enough to do so?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus challenges us to consider exactly that. He said: “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Jesus also said: “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their dead.” Would we be willing and able to be detached from what we have, even to the extent of being detached from family relationship, so that we would be free to follow Him and preach the Good News? It is certainly not an easy thing to do, but if Jesus calls us to leave everything behind and follow Him, how would we respond? Would we do so happily, sincerely and wholeheartedly?

Many of us may claim to know Jesus. We claim to have participated in church, helped in different ministries, did some charity, got involved in other church activities, etc. But does Jesus know us? Or do we claim that Jesus knows us because of the many good we supposingly have done, but the reality is Jesus actually does not know us? How can we tell?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus warns us: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’” We can be doing so many good things, but are the things we do the will of God, or our own will? Sometimes we may do things that appear to be according to God’s will, and we are blinded and convinced that it is, but the fact is what we are doing may actually be our own will, for our own gratification, our own fame and glory.

Let us discern carefully. Why do we do what we do? Are we aware of the will of God, or are we merely satisfying our own desires and needs?

What sort of fruits are you producing in the eyes of God? Are you producing good fruit? Or have you been neglecting your duties and end up producing bad fruit? Some of us may claim to be preaching the good news, but we do so only with words. Our actions, behaviour, attitude and way of life are a contradiction to what we say. In the eyes of the world, we may appear to be producing good fruit, and our track record may seem show it. But the heart can sometimes be devious and the actions of a person may in actuality and in reality be only for one’s personal benefit, gratification, glory.

Today’s Gospel warns us “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them.” We may be preaching the good news, but the motive on why we do so may not necessarily for the glory of God. Are we guilty of this? We can disguise our intentions, but let us be reminded that God sees all and we may end up being a false prophet.

It seems easy to find fault or imperfections in others. We think that others should behave like this or like that, or they should look like this or like that, or they should get rid of a certain habit, etc. But how many of us are diligent and humble enough to discover and rectify our own faults or imperfections? Sometimes the faults and imperfections we see in others are in reality our own which we project on others. We may feel too proud or ashamed to admit our faults, weaknesses and imperfections, and so we try to blame others, hoping that no one will notice our true self.

Jesus in today’s Gospel questions us: “Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How dare you say to your brother, “Let me take the splinter out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye.” Are we still being stubborn and hypocritical in trying to change others while refusing to change ourselves? Have we become so thick-skinned that we think we are ok and others are not? Let us open our eyes and hearts, and be humble enough to realise our true selves and let God help us change our lives and attitudes.