For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
21 Sept 2014 – 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
22 Sept 2014 – Monday of Week 25 Year 2
23 Sept 2014 – Tuesday of Week 25 Year 2
24 Sept 2014 – Wednesday of Week 25 Year 2
25 Sept 2014 – Thursday of Week 25 Year 2
26 Sept 2014 – Friday of Week 25 Year 2
Is life fair? Throughout the day, we may have heard someone somewhere exclaiming: “It’s not fair!” We may have heard children complaining: “I’m doing more work!” or “My chores are more difficult; that’s not fair.” Students at school may resent the extra attention given to a classmate… “that’s the teacher’s favourite, the teacher’s pet; that’s not fair!” A sibling thinks his or her portion of food appears to be smaller than his or her other sibling’s… “That’s not fair!” We may have heard of employees who think their boss doesn’t appreciate their efforts or recognise their achievements, wondering: “that’s not fair!” Someone at work receives a raise in salary which causes another person to think: “I have seniority. I’ve been here longer; that’s not fair!” So, is life fair?
Some of us think that good work, seniority, experience, or talent should be rewarded. Some think that all should be treated equally: no discrimination, no favourites, no this, no that. But are we expecting equality and fairness in all situations, at all cost? Today’s gospel puts us in a spot. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us of a landowner who hired workers at different times of the day to work in his vineyard. At the end of the day, regardless of how long one had worked, the landowner paid all equally, one denarius per person, as what had been agreed upon. Some of us may think: that land owner is not fair. Why should those who work longer hours be paid the same as those who worked fewer hours? Humanly speaking, that appears to be not fair and the landowner appears to have exploited the workers, especially those who worked longer hours. But consider this: the landowner had made an agreement of one denarius a day, no more, no less (not according to the number of hours worked, as some may have expected). He chose to be generous to all, regardless of the number of hours worked. So was the landowner really being fair? Certainly! He paid in full what had been agreed upon, and he chose to be generous. If that is the case, why do some complain about fairness and equality?
In the same way, some of us may feel that God is like the landowner. Some of us feel that God is not fair at times. But are we expecting God to be fair according to our terms? We assume that the way God deals with us ought to be the same as how we deal with each other. However, as the first reading reminds us; God’s ways are not like our ways; nor are God’s thoughts like ours. This realisation should lead us to rejoice in the fact that God transcends all human standards, not in fairness according to the way we perceive, but in love, mercy and compassion.
In today’s responsorial psalm, we are reminded: “The Lord is kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, abounding in love. How good is the Lord to all, compassionate to all his creatures. The Lord is just in all his ways and loving in all his deeds. He is close to all who call him, who call on him from their hearts.” Therefore, we should be thankful, grateful and celebrate, for God is fair to us according to His terms, not according to our terms.
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
14 Sept 2014 – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
15 Sept 2014 – Our Lady of Sorrows, Memorial
16 Sept 2014 – Tuesday of Week 24 Year 2
17 Sept 2014 – Wednesday of Week 24 Year 2
18 Sept 2014 – Thursday of Week 24 Year 2
19 Sept 2014 – Friday of Week 24 Year 2
Sometimes we come to a situation where we are upset or angry with another person because a wrong has been committed. When we are faced with such a situation, what do we do? Some of us may avoid talking to the person entirely and do not want to have anything to do with the person. Some of us may avoid talking to the person, but choose to talk about the person behind his or her back (which is basically gossiping). Some of us may choose to confront the person, but we may do so in a fierce or menacing way. How many of us are able to confront another with love, patience and compassion?
In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us an example of how we should love others and how we should deal with them should a wrong have been committed. Jesus tells us: “If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.” Notice that our dealing with someone who has done something wrong should be done gradually. At first, alone with him or her, then get one or two witnesses, then get the community involved. We should never try to jump the gun and get others involved without dealing personally with the person first. After all, our objective is to deal with the wrong done and not to shame, belittle or embarrass the other person in the presence of other people.
St. Paul tells us in the second reading: “Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments.” Love is not a feeling but a decision. We choose to have love, patience and compassion for others, and just as God loves us all, we too should love all. However, Love does not mean we give in to other people’s demands, but to be firm, patient and tough but kind. Let us be genuine in our love towards others, being firm and tough where necessary, and gentle at heart, just as God loves and guides us as His children.
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
31 Aug 2014 – 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
1 Sept 2014 – Monday of Week 22 Year 2
2 Sept 2014 – Tuesday of Week 22 Year 2
3 Sept 2014 – Wednesday of Week 22 Year 2
4 Sept 2014 – Thursday of Week 22 Year 2
5 Sept 2014 – Friday of Week 22 Year 2
Some of us are fortunate to be living a life without much problems, worries, difficulties, broken relationships, physical or emotional pain, or some other form of suffering. When we are not facing such situations, some of us may begin to get quite comfortable in our present status, and may be reluctant to come out of our comfort zone, get involved, and be charitable towards others less fortunate than us. Some of us may just donate a certain sum, thinking that giving money would help and we have done our part. The question is: are we behaving like Christians in such situations, or are we just doing things just to get a person off our backs or to avoid getting too involved in a situation?
Being a Christian means we are being disciples of Christ. That means we should be constantly on a mission to bring the Good News to others, with words and actions. It also means we must deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. The cross reminds us of the standards of God: such as truth, love, compassion, forgiveness, humility, and self-sacrifice. Whereas we should not be influenced by the standards of the world: such as lies, selfishness, unforgiveness, violence, pride, prejudices and self-centeredness.
Throughout our lives on earth, we are constantly challenged to choose one of two paths. The first path is the easy path, where we are showered with wealth, riches, popularity and power. This path may appear to be wonderful, and some may become complacent and quite comfortable in staying on this path. But such a path could lead us away from God. What some of us think as a wise choice in following this path may one day discover too late that it is a foolish choice. The other path is winding, difficult, challenging, painful and we may face much persecution if we follow this path. But this is the path of the cross, the path that Christ beckons us, as it would lead us to God. Which path do we really want? Which path are we sincerely prepared to follow?
St. Paul in the second reading reminds us: “Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do.” Are we prepared to forgo temporary comfort and riches on earth and take up our cross, so that we could enjoy eternal comfort and riches with God?
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
24 Aug 2014 – 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
25 Aug 2014 – Monday of Week 21 Year 2
26 Aug 2014 – Tuesday of Week 21 Year 2
27 Aug 2014 – Wednesday of Week 21 Year 2
28 Aug 2014 – Thursday of Week 21 Year 2
29 Aug 2014 – Beheading of St. John the Baptist
30 Aug 2014 – Saturday of Week 21 Year 2
When a leader such as the pope, an abbot or a religious is chosen or selected after an extended process, we may sometimes question why such a person is selected. According to the ways of the world, such a person may have not even been considered, since the world often looks at a person’s popularity, strength, intelligence, power and other worldly capabilities and attributes. But the interesting thing is, God’s ways and choices are not our ways and choices. God looks at things which are often not noticeable or deep within which people tend to miss out, overlook or ignore. This is why, in the 2nd reading, St Paul reminds us: “How rich are the depths of God – how deep his wisdom and knowledge – and how impossible to penetrate his motives or understand his methods! Who could ever know the mind of the Lord?”
When such leaders are chosen, they sometimes have their names changed to another name, often a name of a saint. They put on a new identiy, and perhaps pray that they will be able live up to their new name and identity. In the Gospel, Simon was also given a new name. He was called Peter, which means “Rock.” Throughout the Gospel, we see Peter falling and getting up, and we sometimes wonder if Peter had really lived up to his name and identity. We wonder if Jesus had made a mistake in choosing not only Peter, but the other apostles too. After all, these 12 men were a strange mix of people. At hindsight, we begin to appreciate and realise that, no, Jesus did not make a mistake. He could see potential in Peter, and also potential in the other apostles. What appeared to be weaknesses and limitations could be transformed by God to serve His purposes.
When we are chosen and given a new identity, it is God who chooses us. God chooses us in spite of our weaknesses and limitations. God chooses the weak to shame the strong, the foolish to shame the wise, the sinner to shame the righteous. God’s choice may not necessarily be understood or appreciated. That is because our vision and expectations are sometimes coloured with the ways of the world. But one thing we can depend on, God’s ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways would turn out to be a better way in the long run. We just need to be patient and trust in Him, for He knows better than we ever could.
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
17 Aug 2014 – 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
18 Aug 2014 – Monday of Week 20 Year 2
19 Aug 2014 – Tuesday of Week 20 Year 2
20 Aug 2014 – Wednesday of Week 20 Year 2
21 Aug 2014 – Thursday of Week 20 Year 2
22 Aug 2014 – Our Lady, Mother and Queen
Some people think that their race or ethnic group are superior or special. They think that others must give in or “kow tow” to their every whims and fancies. Even among people of the same race or ethnic group, we see segregation and discrimination. People treat others unfairly and with contempt, especially those whom they think are less capable or do not think or act like they do. Even in our churches, are we behaving lovingly and caringly like brothers and sisters in Christ, like sons and daughters of God? Sometimes we see people forming cliques or focusing only with people they are comfortable with, people who perhaps share the same age group, language, culture, interests, or ideas. Is this what we should be as children of God?
In the first reading, Isaiah reminds us: “Thus says the Lord: Have a care for justice, act with integrity, for soon my salvation will come and my integrity be manifest. 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.” Notice that here, all peoples who listen to God’s will are part of God’s fold. It does not matter who you are, whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, God treats you as His own, if you obey His commandments. St Paul in today’s second reading also reminds us that He was sent to pagans as their apostle, and that “God never takes back his gifts or revokes his choice.” Our ancestors were once pagans and were saved through the grace of God. This shows that God’s salvation is given to all people without discrimination. God’s grace is not reserved for any particular race.
As Christians, we cannot have an attitude of isolation or think that we are better or superior to others. God reminds us to “have a care for justice and act with integrity” to all. It matters not who we are, what ethnic group we come from, what religion we profess, God loves all. We should not condemn others or belittle them just because they look, behave, act or think differently than us. We should always show respect to them and put aside our prejudices. We must allow our faith to transform our culture, attitudes and our history. In this way, we can become effective witnesses to all. Are we willing to take up the challenge and love and witness to all, as brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of our loving God?
