For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
9 March 2014 – 1st Sunday of Lent Year A
10 March 2014 – Monday of the 1st Week of Lent
11 March 2014 – Tuesday of the 1st Week of Lent
12 March 2014 – Wednesday of the 1st Week of Lent
13 March 2014 – Thursday of the 1st Week of Lent
14 March 2014 – Friday of the 1st Week of Lent
When we do something wrong or make a mistake, how many of us are willing to admit it? Some of us may try to sweep it under the carpet and hope that no one would discover what we have done. Some would start putting the blame on others and try to find a scapegoat to take the blame for us. How many of us are honestly and readily willing to say we are sorry and move on?
In today’s readings, we are reminded that Adam and Eve sinned because they did not want to admit their wrong doing. Adam blamed Eve for causing him to eat the forbidden fruit. Eve blamed the serpent for tempting her into eating the fruit. It is a continuous vicious circle. You blame me, I blame you, and in the end, we may end up fighting more and more over the most trivial things, just to ensure that we appear to look good. This attitude smacks of pride and arrogance, where we refuse to acknowledge our weaknesses and be compassionate about the weaknesses of others.
Today’s Gospel paints us another picture. Jesus was able to overcome temptation from the devil. Some may say: “But He is God! Surely as God, He is beyond temptation!” However, we should not forget that Jesus is also human. As human, He could be tempted. The forms of temptation which the devil used on Jesus are dissatisfaction, pride and disobedience. But He knew that what the devil was offering Him were merely lies. When we are dissatisfied, we begin to think that God is not giving us our needs. Pride causes us to think that we are greater and more important, and our heads begin to swell. Disobedience is caused when we bow down to the Devil instead of God, and we could do so when we treat other things and objects as gods.
Jesus refused to give in to these temptations because He knew that He was God’s beloved. We too are God’s beloved. We are precious in God’s eyes. We do not need to prove ourselves to God or to anyone. God can and will provide for us. Are we willing to be humble and patient, letting God care for us and give us what we need according to His wisdom? Or are we going to continue doing things our own way? Sometimes, when we demand too much our rights, nothing will be left.
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
2 March 2014 – 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
3 March 2014 – Monday of Week 8 Year 2
4 March 2014 – Tuesday of Week 8 Year 2
5 March 2014 – Ash Wednesday
6 March 2014 – Thursday after Ash Wednesday
7 March 2014 – Friday after Ash Wednesday
Some of us are worry-warts. We worry about our finances, our future, our children’s future, our health, our job, our retirement plans, what to eat, where to go for holiday, etc. Some people even worry that they have nothing to worry about.
Certainly, we need to do our part and work hard for our families and ourselves. But we should not become too concerned to the point where it becomes sinful, as we are eaten up by anxiety, fear, and despair. Today’s Gospel and readings are not telling us to become irresponsible and expect others to provide for us. Instead, we should note:
God knows our needs and would grant them if we ask with persistence and with sincerity. Are we willing to let God guide us and help us?
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
23 February 2014 – 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
24 February 2014 – Monday of Week 7 Year 2
25 February 2014 – Tuesday of Week 7 Year 2
26 February 2014 – Wednesday of Week 7 Year 2
27 February 2014 – Thursday of Week 7 Year 2
28 February 2014 – Friday of Week 7 Year 2
Over the centuries and decades of human history, we have seen much anger, hatred, revenge, opposition, defiance, destruction, etc. as people are unable to love and forgive. It seems easier to get back at others than to forgive, reconcile, let bygones be bygones and move on. Perhaps there is a certain amount of pride and stubbornness which makes people behave and react in this way.
However, today’s Gospel and readings remind us of the need to love. Often we may think that love is only for those who love us. We find it difficult or impossible to love those who hate us. But if we consider the big picture: when we continuously and consistently love others, regardless whether they are friends or otherwise, these people may slowly change their attitude or behaviour towards us. Love is capable of transforming foes to friends, if we make effort to love genuinely. However, we should note that love is not just a feeling, it also requires action. We need to show love towards others, by being good to them, praying for them, being generous to them, etc. It is when we show true and genuine love towards others over time, people begin to change, and our environment changes too.
Often, we may try to take the easy way out by being nasty or indifferent towards those who are mean or difficult to us. We may feel as if our time and effort could be used for other things. But it is through God’s grace we can love and help bring peace on earth. If each of us make effort and not give up so easily, if we are willing to be consistent and make sacrifices, then perhaps we may all truly be God’s children.
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
16 February 2014 – 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
17 February 2014 – Monday of Week 6 Year 2
18 February 2014 – Tuesday of Week 6 Year 2
19 February 2014 – Wednesday of Week 6 Year 2
20 February 2014 – Thursday of Week 6 Year 2
21 February 2014 – Friday of Week 6 Year 2
How deep or mature have we become in our relationship with God? Some people think that praying the rosary is good enough. Some people think that going for Mass on Sundays is sufficient. Others think that getting involved in certain church activities is good enough. But ask yourself… Have you grown deeper and more mature in your relationship with God? If not, why?
Today’s Gospel warns us that “unless our righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, we will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” The scribes and Pharisees were more interested in observing the letter of the law, and in doing so neglected the spirit of the law. As a result, they became so inflexible, lacked common sense and preferred to lord it over others by telling them what to do, but they did not practice what they preached. Jesus in today’s Gospel also reminds us that it is not enough to just observe the commandments, but one should understand and observe the full implications of the commandments (both letter and spirit) and make every effort to love God and neighbour. For example, we may not actually kill a person, but the fact that we are putting a person down to the point of destroying his or her self-worth and dignity, we are “assassinating” that person.
If we call ourselves Catholics, then we should be mindful about our relationship with God and especially with the people around us. Let us not become self-righteous like the scribes and Pharisees, but learn to be loving and forgiving, just as God is loving and forgiving towards us.
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
9 February 2014 – 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
10 February 2014 – Monday of Week 5 Year 2
11 February 2014 – Tuesday of Week 5 Year 2
12 February 2014 – Wednesday of Week 5 Year 2
13 February 2014 – Thursday of Week 5 Year 2
14 February 2014 – Friday of Week 5 Year 2
Each and every one of us has got a purpose in life. Our purpose in life ought to be to serve others and show good example, not just by words but also by deeds. Today’s Gospel reminds us that “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world…” Salt in itself is useless. It becomes useful when mixed with food to improve its taste. Light in itself is also useless. It becomes useful when it illuminates the night and guides us on our way. In the same way, each and every one of us are called to be useful in different ways while proclaiming the Good News.
However, lest we become complacent, thinking that it is sufficient to just proclaim the Good News, today’s Gospel also reminds us: “In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.” Our words in themselves don’t mean anything, if they are not accompanied with good deeds. In the Letter of James, we are reminded: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” Christianity is not just talk, as talking is easy, talking is cheap. We are also reminded to walk the talk, to show what we mean, to mean what we say.
There is a Malay saying: “Cakap tak serupa bikin” which roughly translated means: “What you say is not the same as what you do.” Are we all talk and no action? Are we just blowing hot air, knowing only how to yak away, with the possibility of ending up gossiping? Or are we making effort to show the Good News, with our words and actions?
