Category Archives: Sunday

Supposing one day you receive a letter and in that letter you discover that you had won a prize for a competition you had participated and had forgotten about. How would you feel? Surely you would want to tell your family members and close friends. Or supposing you are a woman and you have been trying for quite a while to conceive, and one fine day you do a pregnancy test and discover that the result is positive, and later confirm the result with the doctor. What would your reaction be? Surely you can’t wait to share the joy with your husband and loved ones.

Good news is not meant to be kept to ourselves. Often we would be happy and eager to share good news with others and invite them to rejoice with us. But what about the Good News of Jesus Christ? All of us, regardless whether we are priests, religious, or lay people, are called and sent forth to preach the Good News. In today’s first reading, we see how Philip took action and went to Samaria to preach the Good News, while working many miracles there. As a result, “the people united in welcoming the message Philip preached, either because they had heard of the miracles he worked or because they saw them for themselves.” In today’s second reading, we are are reminded to “always have your answer ready for people who ask you the reason for the hope that you all have. But give it with courtesy and respect and with a clear conscience…”

The question is this: Are we eager and gung-ho in going forth to preach the Good News? Are we not aware that we should be missionaries of Christ wherever we are and in whatever circumstances we are in? Do we expect only certain folks like our religious and priests to do the work and we take things easy? Being Christian is certainly not easy, and preaching the Good News is also not so easy or straightforward. We may face many obstacles and suffering. However, let us trust in God’s help and as the second reading tells us: “if anyone of you should suffer for being a Christian, then he is not to be ashamed of it; he should thank God that he has been called one.” Are you happy and proud to be a Chrisian, and full of zeal to go forth and preach the Good News?

What is more important to our spiritual growth? Action? Prayer? Some of us may think that we need to do something for our spiritual growth. We get involved with all sorts of activities, we do charity here and there, we get into different aspects of church life. Over time, we become more and more preoccupied with doing things. We begin to think that our spiritual growth is tied to the amount of things we are capable of doing, as well as the number of activities we are involved or have been involved in.

However, is action more important or the only thing that matters? Would we be branded as useless or hopeless if we do not get involved so much? In our busyness and running around doing things, we become less and less hardworking in our prayer life. We neglect our conversations with God and begin to find it more and more challenging keeping still. After all, we are so used to activities, things going on around us, that we may have failed to listen to the promptings of God within us.

St. Peter in the second reading reminds us that we are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart to sing the praises of God who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.” Here, we are reminded to give praise to God through our words and actions. In the first reading, seven deacons were appointed to help in the distribution of goods so that the apostles “can continue to devote themselves to prayer and to the service of the word.” When we look at these readings, we can begin to realise that we need to look carefully at our prayer life. Our actions must flow from our prayers and praying helps us to remain focused on God. Prayer reminds us that we are doing God’s work and not our own. Prayer reminds us that ultimately, God is in control.

Jesus tells his disciples at the beginning of today’s gospel: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust in me.” When we trust in God and in Jesus, we begin to realise that we cannot do everything. We realise that we are not superman or superwoman, and there are certain things and certain situations which we need to let God take care. When we pray, we are not saying that we are incompetent or incapable, but we are aware of our limitations and we trust that God, who is limitless, will do what is best for us and for the situation.

Today, let us increase our efforts in prayer and reflection. Let us let God be God and trust in Him, knowing that He will take care of things. Let us listen to His voice, and let Him take control. Let us remember that we can never do it alone, as all things are possible only with God.

At some point or another, we may have strayed and gotten ourselves into a mess. Sometimes, we get ourselves into a bigger mess than we can handle. But no matter how bad the situation may seem, we have a shepherd whom we can turn to for help. Today’s second reading reminds us that “Christ suffered for you and left an example for you to follow the way he took.” Also, we are reminded that “you had gone astray like sheep but now you have come back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.” Christ is our shepherd and it is His voice that we should follow, since it is His voice that we ought to recognise.

Today’s Gospel also reminds us that Christ is “the gate of the sheepfold. All others who have come are thieves and brigands; but the sheep took no notice of them. I am the gate. Anyone who enters through me will be safe: he will go freely in and out and be sure of finding pasture.” The question is, are we listening to His voice and following only His voice? Or have we allowed ourselves to be distracted with other voices? Are we going through Christ, our gate? Or are we trying to take other shortcuts or routes, which could lead to dangerous situations?

Sometimes in life we may be tempted to listen to the various voices of the world. The world tells us different things, sometimes conflicting things, to confuse and subdue us. The world also gives us paths, routes and other avenues which may appear to be just as good as what Christ offers us, and yet, such other “gates” could only lead to our destruction. Are we still restless and stubborn, trying to find our own way? Or have we learnt be humble and open enough to listen to His voice, and go through His gate, where we will find rest and security for our souls?