Category Archives: Thursday

It is very easy for some of us to become like the scribes and Pharisees. Some of you may say: “Yerr! This padre so bad one. Call us scribe and Pharisees.” But if we think about it for a moment, we could somewhat agree that it is indeed easy and possible for some of us to become like the scribes and Pharisees. How so? How can? It’s like this: What is the problem the scribes and Pharisees had? Firstly, they excelled in following the letter of the law. They even added numerous sub-laws to so-called compliment God’s law, forgetting or ignoring that basically, God’s law is not that complicated, since God’s law is basically only two, that is to love God and to love neighbour. But all they were interested was to follow the letter of the law, and not the spirit or purpose of the law. Secondly, the scribes and Pharisees knew how to make other people feel bad, since they thought that they were ok and everyone else was not ok. Thirdly, the scribes and Pharisees were famous for not practising what they preach, as we have seen in many examples in the Gospel. Could some of us be like the scribes and Pharisees, looking at what sort of persons they were, and what sort of persons some of us are becoming or have become?

That is why, in today’s Gospel, we are cautioned: “If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.” When we are so full of ourselves; when we think that everyone else is wrong and we are right; when we belittle others or put others down, just because they do not think, behave or act like we do; when we are self-righteous and condemn others; we may actually be like the scribes and Pharisees. One example I have observed is when a person comes for confession, but instead of confessing one’s sins, the person begins to complain about or condemn other people, and when asked why they came to confession in the first place, such persons say that they have been wronged, they are ok or innocent, and they are angry or upset that other people or not treating them right or listening to them. Is that what confession is all about? Are such persons not behaving like the scribes and Pharisees?

Thus, let us ask ourselves. Are we learning to love God and neighbour sincerely and genuinely? Are we concerned about our relationship, especially with others, and are willing to be patient, persistent, firm but kind? Or are we cold or hard hearted, like the scribes and Pharisees, who thought that they were holy and faultless, and others are doomed?

Life is such that we will face trials and challenges from time to time, and sometimes such challenges and trials could test our faith. When we are tested, we could respond in different ways: some of us would take the challenge and do our best in overcoming such tests; some of us would just sit and do nothing, thinking that such challenges will eventually go away and not bother us; or some of us could even give up and be overwhelmed by such challenges, even to the point of losing our faith. If you are in such a situation where you are facing a great challenge, how would you respond?

In today’s reading, we are reminded: “Do all you can to present yourself in front of God as a man who has come through his trials, and a man who has no cause to be ashamed of his life’s work and has kept a straight course with the message of the truth.” The reading cautions us that we are to do all we can; not just sit idle; or give up. Are we taking on such challenges for the glory of God? Or have we become too complacent and forgotten our identity and mission as Christians?

Each and every day, we are surrounded with choices. Sometimes we make good choices, sometimes we make bad ones. When we make bad choices, what happens? Just as a stain can slowly ruin a shirt or pants, a stain of sin as a result of bad choices can slowly ruin our soul. When our soul is stained, what do we do? Ideally, we should go for confession as soon as possible. Surely we would not want a stain to remain on our soul for too long, just like we would quickly get the stain removed from our clothing. But the reality is, some of us seem to think that we have plenty of time to remove the stains of sin from our soul. Some of us seem to drag our feet, procrastinate, or put off going to confession. Some even go only once or twice a year. Are we forgetting the possible consequence of letting the stains of sin remain?

In today’s reading, we are cautioned: “I urge you, my dear people, while you are visitors and pilgrims to keep yourselves free from the selfish passions that attack the soul.: When our soul is stained, we are causing ourselves to drift further away from God. We begin to think that we are self-sufficient, and that we can get by and prosper in this world. Perhaps we may be able to survive in this world for a while, but what is going to happen to us when we leave this world? Are we going to lose our lives in the afterlife, because of our neglect? May we come to realise that we are merely visitors and pilgrims on earth. Earth is not our permanent home, so let us make more effort to prepare for our permanent home. Where our permanent home may be, is up to us to decide.

Is it wrong for a person to be rich? No. Being rich is not wrong nor a sin. But how one acquired such riches and what one does with such riches could lead a person to sin. For example, a person could get rich by committing crime; or they gain wealth through corruption or other unsavoury means; or even get involved in illegal or black market trade; or through cheating, swindelling or abusing others for the sake of attaining wealth. Also, a person could misuse one’s riches to pervert the course of justice; or bribe certain officials for favours or benefits; or even use money lavishly for personal glory, fame, to boost one’s ego or personal gratification. When people do such things, the person could be sinning in many different ways.

In today’s reading, the rich who misuse their wealth or gain wealth through evil ways are warned: “Start crying, weep for the miseries that are coming to you. Your wealth is all rotting, your clothes are all eaten up by moths. All your gold and your silver are corroding away, and the same corrosion will be your own sentence, and eat into your body… Labourers mowed your fields, and you cheated them – listen to the wages that you kept back, calling out; realise that the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. On earth you have had a life of comfort and luxury; in the time of slaughter you went on eating to your heart’s content. It was you who condemned the innocent and killed them; they offered you no resistance.”

Could some of us be guilty of gaining wealth through evil ways and misusing wealth? Let us take caution and not be lured into a false sense of security, since our riches here on earth will not last. Instead, let us make more effort in building “riches” in heaven, riches that will last for all eternity.