For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
25 January 2015 – 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
26 January 2015 – SS. Timothy & Titus, Bishops – Memorial
27 January 2015 – Tuesday of Week 3 Year1
28 January 2015 – Wednesday of Week 3 Year1
29 January 2015 – Thursday of Week 3 Year1
30 January 2015 – Friday of Week 3 Year 1
Life here on earth is quite unpredictable. Today we may seem healthy and content, but we do not know what could happen tomorrow. Many of us may be quite uncomfortable to talk about death, and there are some who consider it a taboo topic. However, the fact of the matter is, all of us will die one day. It does not matter whether we are young or old, sick or healthy, death can come at any time. This is why we are always reminded that life is short and we should set our priorities right. We should not be spending too much time in less important things, while disregarding or procrastinating on the more important ones, the ones that really matter.
This is what the readings today are trying to remind us. In today’s Gospel, Jesus begins His message of Good News by telling us: “The time has come and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.” Jesus is telling us that now is the time to change our ways, to make God our priority, to let God take control of our lives. We cannot wait till tomorrow, or next month, or even next year; we must decide now, because tomorrow may never come. The Ninevites in today’s first reading got the idea of how urgent it was to change their ways. They did not wait or waste time, instead, “the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least.” As a result, “God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour. And God relented: He did not inflict on them the disaster which He had threatened.” Even St. Paul in today’s second reading cautions us with the same message: “Brothers: our time is growing short. Those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they had nothing to mourn for; those who are enjoying life should live as though there were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should live as though they had nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with the world should not become engrossed in it. I say this because the world as we know it is passing away.”
Some of us may be wondering why we are talking about death and repentance at the beginning of the year. Some may think that we are being too pessimistic or too cautious, and that we should continue living life to the fullest. But the point is: death can come suddenly, and all our plans for the year, no matter how grand or wonderful they may be, will no longer matter. What matters is our relationship with God. Is our relationship with God healthy? Have we let God be the master of our lives? If the answer is still “no,” then we need to do something about it. We need to seize every opportunity to grow closer to God, and repent and believe in His Good News. Why wait till it’s too late?
We call ourselves Christians, but are we prepared to follow Christ completely, with no ifs or buts, no terms or conditions? Are we willing to change our ways and let God take control? Are we prepared to “leave our nets and follow him”? Saying that we are willing to do so is easy, but what we say could be merely words, empty words. Let us make the decision today, and let God reign in our hearts.
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
18 January 2015 – 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
19 January 2015 – Monday of Week 2 Year1
20 January 2015 – Tuesday of Week 2 Year1
21 January 2015 – Wednesday of Week 2 Year1
22 January 2015 – Thursday of Week 2 Year1
23 January 2015 – Friday of Week 2 Year 1
Have you ever wondered why you are here on earth? What is your purpose? Who are you, really? What are you to become? Sometimes we go through life without thinking much about such questions, but there comes a time where we would need to take stock of where we came from, where we are now, and where we are going. Life here on earth is short, and it is good for us to be firmly rooted in knowing our purpose and to live life to the fullest.
When we ask such questions about our lives, some of us may begin to think that it is all about doing and doing as much as possible. But Christianity is not just about doing, what is more important is our identity; who we are, so to speak. Therefore, our actions or what we do ought to flow from who we are. And who are we? Today’s second reading gives us the answer: “Your body, you know, is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you since you received him from God. You are not your own property; you have been bought and paid for. That is why you should use your body for the glory of God.” We are, as the reading reminds us, not our own property, for we belong to God.
If we realise who we are, then we can begin to understand that Jesus in today’s Gospel was not asking the two disciples what they wanted materially. Instead, He is asking them, and He is asking us too: What do you want to become? Jesus was trying to challenge these first disciples, and us too, to look deeper into our lives and to ask ourselves: Who am I? What is my purpose in this life? What does God want me to become? Thus, we must learn to listen carefully to God’s voice while we pray. We must learn to discern His voice and distinguish His voice from others. We must learn to listen the way Samuel in today’s first reading listened and say, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”
Today, Jesus is inviting us to become His followers. Jesus is inviting us to “come and see”, to journey with him, to discover His plan for us, to shoulder His yoke and learn from Him. Let us open our hearts and minds, so that Jesus could transform us and use us for the greater glory of God.
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
11 January 2015 – Baptism of the Lord
12 January 2015 – Monday of Week 1 Year 1
13 January 2015 – Tuesday of Week 1 Year 1
14 January 2015 – Wednesday of Week 1 Year 1
15 January 2015 – Thursday of Week 1 Year 1
16 January 2015 – Friday of Week 1 Year 1
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
4 January 2015 – Epiphany
5 January 2015 – Monday after Epiphany
6 January 2015 – Tuesday after Epiphany
7 January 2015 – Wednesday after Epiphany
8 January 2015 – Thursday after Epiphany
9 January 2015 – Friday after Epiphany
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
28 December 2014 – Holy Family
29 December 2014 – 5th day within the octave of Christmas
30 December 2014 – 6th day within the octave of Christmas
31 December 2014 – 7th day within the octave of Christmas
1 January 2015 – Mary, Mother of God – Solemnity
2 January 2015 – 2 January
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
21 December 2014 – 4th Sunday of Advent Year B
22 December 2014 – 22 December – Season of Advent
23 December 2014 – 23 December – Season of Advent
24 December 2014 – Christmas Eve – Midnight Mass
25 December 2014 – Christmas Day – Mass During the Day
26 December 2014 – Dec 26 – Saint Stephen, the first Martyr – Feast
Many of us like to give and receive gifts. Sometimes the gift could be something big, or something small, or something expensive, or something cheap, or something valuable or precious, or even something useful to us or we think is useful to the person receiving the gift. As we are approaching Christmas, some of us may begin to scurry about frantically looking for different gifts for different people, some of us may begin shopping for new clothing, some of us may even begin stocking up different types of food, fruits, drinks and other delicacies, so that we would be well prepared for the upcoming celebrations. But if we consider for a moment… when we are choosing a gift or purchasing something, are we choosing something that we like and we think that the other person would like as well? Or are we choosing something which the other person really likes?
In the first reading, we come across King David who thought he ought to build a temple to house the ark of the Covenant. Perhaps King David felt guilty that God had done so much for him and he had not done anything or had not done enough in response. Perhaps King David felt uncomfortable and thought that it was improper or not dignified enough for the ark of God to dwell in a tent while he lived in a house of cedar. But instead of gifting God a temple, King David received a greater gift from God. God blessed King David and promised him a dynasty that will last forever, and also make him great in the midst of all nations.
Some of us think that we owe God something in return for the many things God has given us. Some of us may subscribe to a “you scratch my back, I scratch yours” mentality, thinking that we can get more blessings or favours from God through our gifts (as though we could bribe God). But God cannot be bribed. Everything we have comes from Him and is actually a gift from Him to us. God chooses to give us many gifts, and we must learn to receive and accept from God whatever he wishes to give us. This is an attitude or quality which Mary displayed in the Gospel. She had nothing to give God, for she had no power, no possession; nothing. And yet, God chose her as the mother of His Son Jesus. God blessed her with such a gift because Mary was willing to receive and accept God’s gift; she was willing and humble enough to listen to God’s will when she said: “I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let what you have said be done to me.”
When we gift something to others, we are in control, since we decide what we give. On the other hand, when we receive something, we have no power or control over what we receive. When God gives us something, we cannot dictate what we want to receive from Him; God chooses what is best for us, and we can decide to accept or reject the gift. For some, not having control over the gift which we may receive could be a scary situation. But why should we be afraid? Are we not confident or trusting enough in God’s choice? Let us be willing and humble enough to let God take control of our lives and receive the many blessings and gifts He bestows on us.
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
14 December 2014 – 3rd Sunday of Advent Year B
15 December 2014 – Monday of the 3rd Week of Advent
16 December 2014 – Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Advent
17 December 2014 – 17 December – Season of Advent
18 December 2014 – 18 December – Season of Advent
19 December 2014 – 19 December – Season of Advent
