Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: Thursday

Thursday after Ash Wednesday

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It is quite easy for some to become distracted and caught up with so many things this world has to offer. Wealth, property, popularity, fame, recognition, power and prestige are some of the attractions which could lure us away from our true purpose and our true goal. The world gives us the impression that these things are what matters and some may fail to open their eyes and discover the illusion and impermanence of all these temporal things.

In today’s Gospel, we see a contrast between the ways of the world and the ways of God. If we want to grow closer to God, Jesus reminds us in the Gospel: “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, that man will save it. What gain, then, is it for a man to have won the whole world and to have lost or ruined his very self?” The question we need to ask ourselves truthfully is this: are we seeking an eternity of happiness, or an eternity of ruin? We say that we want happiness, but what are we doing to arrive at such happiness? Are we willing to lose it all on this earth for eternal rewards? Let us choose wisely and make the necessary preparations for what ultimately really matters.

Thursday after Epiphany

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The world that we live in can sometimes be quite an unloving place for some of us. There are people who live lives as if only they mattered and everyone else is insignificant or useful only where it suits them. There are people who love, but their love is often attached with some term or condition. There are also people who are genuine and selfless in their love, but such people are not always so easy or apparent to find, as more and more people become individualistic and materialistic. What sort of person have you become at this stage of your life?

In today’s reading, we are reminded: “We are to love, because God loved us first. Anyone who says, ‘I love God’, and hates his brother, is a liar, since a man who does not love the brother that he can see cannot love God, whom he has never seen. So this is the commandment that he has given us, that anyone who loves God must also love his brother.” The reading also tells us that God’s commandments are not difficult. We make the commandments difficult and complicate our lives and the lives of others because of our pride and prejudice, our ego, our self-interests and also because we have been stubborn and refused to be honest, genuine and true in our love. Are we willing to change our ways and attitudes, so that with God’s grace, we can learn to love the way He loves us all?

Thursday of Week 11 Year 2

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Some people think that they need to say a lot of things when praying. They go into all sorts of words, noises, gestures, perhaps thinking that God needs some time and hopefully will eventually hear them. Today’s Gospel reminds us: “In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Instead, we are taught the Our Father or Lord’s Prayer. Though this prayer seems short and concise, it is full of meaning. In the Our Father, we learn to be humble and dependent on God’s providence. Are we reciting the Our Father with meaning, humility and conviction? Are we fully aware of what we are praying while reciting the Our Father? Or are we, as the Gospel tells us, merely “babble as the pagans do?” Why the need to rush? Why the need to say so much?

Thursday of Week 10 Year 2

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Some of us try to do the minimum and expect to get maximum returns. For example, we may not be so hardworking in our studies or job, but we expect to do well or gain an increase in salary or a promotion. However, today’s Gospel reminds us that we cannot just do the minimum and expect to get into the Kingdom of heaven.

In today’s Gospel, “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.'” In the Gospel, we are reminded to do more than the minimum, and also to be in good terms with others. If we have problems or difficulties with a brother or sister, we cannot just ignore the problem or sweep it under the carpet. We must make every effort to forgive and reconcile, while we have the chance to do so. After all, the Gospel warns us: “Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.”

Are we making much effort to love God and neighbour? Or are we content in doing the barest minimum, and put our eternal future at risk?

Thursday of the 7th Week of Easter

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Sometimes when we are being persecuted or put on trial, one should be prepared spiritually and mentally to face our accusers. Sometimes the kind of accusers we are facing can be manipulated to our advantage. This is the tactic which Paul used in today’s reading. Because of the squabble which broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees due to Paul’s crafty statement, the accusations brought about by both parties were set aside and they became engrossed with arguments among themselves. As a result, Paul was rescued and brought into the fortress under the protection of the tribune.

Jesus reminds us: “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). This means that, at times, we need to be cunning and able to defend ourselves, so that we would be able to continue in our mission in proclaiming the Good News. Are we using our intellect effectively and efficiently for the greater glory of God?

Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter

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Being a Christian in this world is not easy. On the one hand, we want to succeed and prosper. On the other hand, we are reminded time and time again to keep God’s commandments. Sometimes the things we are asked to perform in the world may be in conflict with God’s commandments. If we choose to perform the task, we would be breaking a commandment of God. If we choose not to perform the task, we may lose our status, our popularity, our financial security, our prosperity, and even our lives. If faced with such a situation, what would you do?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus said to his disciples: “Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete.” What do we want? Eternal joy or eternal sadness? The joy we experience in this world is only temporary. After a while, we would need to find other ways and means to remain joyful. In fact, we may never attain complete joy. However, Jesus is offering a kind of joy which is complete. We can receive this joy which He offers us if we keep God’s commandments and remain in His love. If that is so, why do we still stubbornly insist in seeking temporary things of this world while slacking in seeking eternal things out of this world? Don’t we value and want the joy Jesus offers us?

Thursday of the 4th Week of Easter

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Are we doing our own thing, or are we doing God’s thing? Are we building our own kingdom, or are we building God’s Kingdom? Sometimes we may be doing things which may appear to glorify God, but in reality we are doing such things for our own benefit or to glorify ourselves. Today’s Gospel reminds us of who we ought to be: “I tell you most solemnly, no servant is greater than his master, no messenger is greater than the man who sent him. Now that you know this, happiness will be yours if you behave accordingly.”

Sometimes in our lives, we may be behaving more like the master than the servant. When we treat others with contempt; when we lord it over others; when we think we are smarter, wiser or superior compared to others; when we misuse our authority; when we are biased towards certain people; then we may be doing our own thing instead of truly and unreservedly glorifying God. Let us discern and discover who we are and ought to be; and behave accordingly to gain true happiness.

Thursday of the 3rd Week of Easter

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When we were baptised, how many of us rejoiced in receiving baptism? For those of us who were baptised as babies, perhaps we may not have been fully aware or understood what was going on. But for those who were baptised as adults, were we excited, joyful, happy, or enthusiastic? Today’s reading tells us about the eunuch who was an officer at the court of the kandake, or queen, of Ethiopia. This eunuch went on his way rejoicing after receiving baptism from Philip. We may not know what happened to the eunuch after this, but from his joyful exuberance, we could guess that he would have continued to spread the Good News in his homeland Ethiopia.

We too are called to go forth to preach the Good News, since our baptism makes a children of God and surely we should be excited to share this Good News with others. Our baptism is not meant to be kept for ourselves only, but we should be the salt of the earth and the light of the world so that others would come to know and accept Jesus. Are we doing our part? Or have we allowed ourselves to slack and become complacent towards our duty?

Thursday of the 2nd Week of Easter

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Who do you obey? Do you obey God’s laws? Or do you obey man’s laws? Sometimes we may be asked to do something which is according to man’s laws, but by doing that something, we are breaking God’s laws. On the other hand, we may be obeying God’s laws, but that could cause us to be unpopular or persecuted because we are not going with the flow or joining the crowd. Man’s laws are not always just, not always fair, not always right, not always proper, and yet, some of us still obey them, because some of us think that by doing so, we would save our own skin, or perhaps gain an advantage or promotion, or maybe gain respect or recognition from other people.

Today’s reading reminds us that “obedience to God comes before obedience to men.” Ultimately we need to decide and check our conscience. Are we doing the right and proper thing to remain in good relationship with God? Or are we doing things to please people? Are we looking for eternal rewards, or are we merely satisfied with temporary rewards here on earth? Let us choose wisely for our eternal future.

Easter Thursday

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When something absolutely amazing and outstandingly wonderful happens, some of us may become dumbfounded. We may become gobsmacked, utterly astonished, astounded, bewildered or absolutely stunned, unable to say or do anything. This is what happened to the disciples when Jesus made His appearance. Perhaps in some of their hearts, they thought they were seeing a ghost. Some may have thought they were dreaming or seeing a vision. Nevertheless, it must have been an indescribable feeling when they saw Jesus. To pacify them and to show that He was for real, “He said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ And they offered him a piece of grilled fish, which he took and ate before their eyes.”

If Jesus were to appear to us in the same way as He did to the disciples, would our joy be so great as well? Would we take up the challenge to be His witnesses and go forth and preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins to all the nations? Sometimes in our daily living, we may have forgotten or played down our duty to proclaim the Good News. Jesus Christ is risen and He now commands us to go forth and proclaim the Good News. Do we still need further convincing?