Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: Sunday

2nd Sunday of Advent Year A

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When we were baptised as babies, or as children, or as adults, did anything change in our lives? Some of us may think that baptism means we become adopted children of God, but do we really know what that means?

In today’s Gospel, we see John baptising. His baptism is a baptism of repentance, and with repentance we need to be totally changed, totally converted and transformed anew. Total conversion means we can no longer be partial, we need to discard any form of prejudice, discrimination and intolerance. In the First Reading, we see how all creatures live in peace and harmony. They do no hurt, no harm,
on all God’s holy mountain. In the Second Reading, we are reminded that “It can only be to God’s glory, then, for you to treat each other in the same friendly way as Christ treated you.”

Seeing how we are supposed to behave as baptised Catholics and as adopted children of God, let us then examine ourselves. Do we treat others fairly and justly? Do we consider ourselves united as Catholics, and not just focused in a particular ethnic group or language? Are we able to care and love others without looking at skin colour, language, or appearance? When we sing, “They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love,” do we realise the significance of what we sing and do we really mean what we sing? If we consider ourselves as adopted children of God, then perhaps we should make more effort to treat others as part of God’s family, and not as strangers.

Housekeeping – 1st Week of Advent

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For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:

1 December 2013 – 1st Sunday of Advent Year A
2 December 2013 – Monday of the 1st Week of Advent
3 December 2013 – Tuesday of the 1st Week of Advent
4 December 2013 – Wednesday of the 1st Week of Advent
5 December 2013 – Thursday of the 1st Week of Advent
6 December 2013 – Friday of the 1st Week of Advent

Announcement: Some Suggestions for Reading Reflections

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Greetings…

Some of you may have been reading the reflections which I have been publishing in advance. While it is commendable for you to do so, may I suggest you re-read a particular reflection the day or night before the Mass, of which its readings the reflection is based on. So, for example, if tomorrow’s Mass is using the readings of Tuesday Week 30 Year 1, you may wish to consider reading the readings of that Mass, and then the reflection. In this way, it is hoped you will benefit more from the readings and reflection of the particular Mass.

Shalom and God bless,

Fr. Andrew Kooi

1st Sunday of Advent Year A

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Some of us may have been asleep for quite a while. Instead of growing in faith and in relationship with God, we may have been dormant or inactive. Some do the minimal and seem focused more on wealth, success, fame, fortune, etc. of this world. But for how long can we be in this state of sleepiness? We may be awake physically, but are we truly awake spiritually?

As we begin a new Liturgical Year on this 1st Sunday of Advent, and as we prepare to say goodbye to this year, let us take this opportunity, as the Second Reading tells us today, to change our lives and to “wake up for our salvation is even nearer; let us give up all the things we prefer to do under cover of the dark; let us arm ourselves and appear in the light. Let us live decently as people do in the daytime.”

Throughout this year, we need to ask ourselves thoroughly and honestly: have we changed and become better persons? Have we become closer to God? Have we learnt to be more forgiving and loving? Have we learnt to be more patient, especially towards our family, loved ones, elders, etc.? If we have failed in one way or another to improve ourselves in any of these areas and more, let us wake up and take stock of our lives.

Jesus warns us in today’s Gospel to “stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming” and we “must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Are we going to allow ourselves to be caught off-guard? Or have we been making preparations spiritually to meet our loving God? Let us not pass the many opportunities given to us to grow spiritually, lest we find ourselves left out and have only ourselves to blame.

Housekeeping – Week 34 Year 1

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For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:

24 November 2013 – Christ the King Year C
25 November 2013 – Monday of Week 34 Year 1
26 November 2013 – Tuesday of Week 34 Year 1
27 November 2013 – Wednesday of Week 34 Year 1
28 November 2013 – Thursday of Week 34 Year 1
29 November 2013 – Friday of Week 34 Year 1

The Liturgical Year for 2013 ends on 30 Nov 2013 tomorrow evening, where 1st Sunday of Advent Year A is celebrated.

Christ the King Year C

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For most of us, a king or queen is someone who has power and prestige, lives in big castles or mansions, rules over all and probably lords it over all, whose interest is more towards preserving one’s dynasty. Few of us actually have an opportunity to meet him or her in person and even if we do get a chance, we would probably need to go through some sort of elaborate protocol. Our earthly royalty is usually way beyond our league and way beyond our reach, and most of us would probably never have a chance to dine with or even be granted an audience with him or her.

In contrast, we have a divine royalty who is available and accessible to us. He was born in a stable. From humble beginnings, he reached out to all and taught us in many ways how to live and love God and neighbour. He ate and drank with us, as we can read in many parts of the Gospels. He even, as the Second Reading tells us, “made peace by His death on the cross.” Even on the cross, while he suffered tremendously, he said to the repentant thief: “‘Indeed, I promise you,’ he replied ‘today you will be with me in paradise.’” This king, who is King of kings, is Jesus Christ. Today, we have plenty of opportunities to be in His presence in front of the Blessed Sacrament and also during daily and weekend Masses. Are we seizing the opportunity to build and grow in relationship with Jesus our loving King? Are we making more effort to dine with Him daily?

Today, let us pledge our allegiance to Jesus our Eternal King, for he loves us and wants all of us to be with him in paradise. Let us not procrastinate any longer, but do something now for the good of our souls.

Housekeeping – Week 33 Year 1

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For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:

17 November 2013 – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
18 November 2013 – Monday of Week 33 Year 1
19 November 2013 – Tuesday of Week 33 Year 1
20 November 2013 – Wednesday of Week 33 Year 1
21 November 2013 – Thursday of Week 33 Year 1
22 November 2013 – Friday of Week 33 Year 1

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

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There comes a time in life where we need to make a major decision. Some would call that a fundamental decision, one which you would stick to no matter what. What decision do we need to make? A decision to choose God and build one’s relationship with Him, or to choose the world and all it has to offer. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. (Matthew 6:24).” Perhaps some may say that such a decision requires less thought. After all, who wouldn’t want to be with God? However, choosing to be with God has its consequences. Are we ready and willing to face such consequences?

Choosing God means we cannot just be, as the Second Reading tells us, “living in idleness, doing no work themselves but interfering with everyone else’s.” Building relationship with God requires much hard work, perseverance, and sacrifices. The Gospel reminds us that “men will seize you and persecute you; they will hand you over to the synagogues and to imprisonment, and bring you before kings and governors because of my name – and that will be your opportunity to bear witness. Keep this carefully in mind: you are not to prepare your defence, because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends; and some of you will be put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost. Your endurance will win you your lives.”

In the face of such challenges, are we determined, unflinching and enthusiastic in our resolve to choose God? Or could some of us be tempted by the ways of the world and fall away? Certainly being a Catholic is not easy, but the rewards if we endure to the end are out of this world.

Housekeeping – 6 Nov 2013

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Usually, I would try to write reflections in advance so that you can have access to the reflections before the Mass. However, some of you may be unsure about my title system. I write according to the Week and Year the reflection is based on. Thus, for your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:

8 October 2013 – Tuesday of Week 27 Year 1
9 October 2013 – Wednesday of Week 27 Year 1
10 October 2013 – Thursday of Week 27 Year 1
11 October 2013 – Friday of Week 27 Year 1
13 October 2013 – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

14 October 2013 – Monday of Week 28 Year 1
15 October 2013 – St. Teresa of Avila
16 October 2013 – Wednesday of Week 28 Year 1
17 October 2013 – Thursday of Week 28 Year 1
18 October 2013 – Friday of Week 28 Year 1
20 October 2013 – 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

21 October 2013 – Monday of Week 29 Year 1
22 October 2013 – Tuesday of Week 29 Year 1
23 October 2013 – Wednesday of Week 29 Year 1
24 October 2013 – Thursday of Week 29 Year 1
25 October 2013 – Friday of Week 29 Year 1
27 October 2013 – 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

28 October 2013 – Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
29 October 2013 – Tuesday of Week 30 Year 1
30 October 2013 – Wednesday of Week 30 Year 1
31 October 2013 – Thursday of Week 30 Year 1
1 November 2013 – All Saints Day
2 November 2013 – All Souls Day
3 November 2013 – 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

4 November 2013 – Monday of Week 31 Year 1
5 November 2013 – Tuesday of Week 31 Year 1
6 November 2013 – Wednesday of Week 31 Year 1
7 November 2013 – Thursday of Week 31 Year 1
8 November 2013 – Friday of Week 31 Year 1
10 November 2013 – 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

11 November 2013 – Monday of Week 32 Year 1
12 November 2013 – Tuesday of Week 32 Year 1
13 November 2013 – Wednesday of Week 32 Year 1
14 November 2013 – Thursday of Week 32 Year 1
15 November 2013 – Friday of Week 32 Year 1

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

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As humans, we all experience some form of suffering in our lives. Some mothers suffer throughout their pregnancy due to cramps, morning sickness, and even at childbirth. Babies often suffer growing pains as they move from infant, to toddler, to beyond. There are people who constantly suffer migraine, depression, and other ailments which do not seem to go away. When these sufferings occur, some of us may begin to question: why is this happening? Is God punishing us?

We begin to think that good people enjoy life and bad people suffer. Along with this thought, we begin to think that we must have said or done something wrong or bad to have caused us to suffer. However, today’s first reading tells us that this is not true. The seven brothers suffered terribly even though they were good people. Why did God allow them to suffer? Why didn’t God rescue them?

Trying to find an answer to why suffering occurs is not easy. We try to explain it away, only to find that the answer is not complete, not satisfactory, not acceptable. Many learned people have in the past tried to find a good answer, only to discover that there is really no suitable answer. Just as God is a mystery, suffering is also a mystery, and a mystery is something which is slowly being revealed and points us to a greater truth.

However, we Catholics have faith in the resurrection and that helps us understand that suffering is not permanent and death is not the end. We trust that God promises life and not death, and we believe that He will care for us and raise us up. Thus, let us continue to place our hope and trust in our loving God, for as the Gospel reminds us: “He is God, not of the dead, but of the living; for to Him all men are in fact alive.”