Category Archives: Tuesday

There are some people who seem to think that just because they have been baptised, they have been assured salvation. Some of these people also believe that nothing that they do, no matter how big or small, would cause them to lose their “saved” status. Some have even claimed that they could commit serious sins like murder, and still be “saved.” But is this sort of thinking a Christian way of thinking?

In today’s reading, St. Paul reminds us: “For we must be content to hope that we shall be saved – our salvation is not in sight, we should not have to be hoping for it if it were – but, as I say, we must hope to be saved since we are not saved yet – it is something we must wait for with patience.” This means that we still need to continue living good Christian lives, as we await our hope for salvation. It also means that we cannot do as we please, thinking that we can get away with it, expecting to still be saved when what we have done is against God’s commandments. May we do our part and be consistent with our behaviour, conduct and attitude, so that others will know what being a Christian is really all about.

For many Catholics, Sunday is the day where they go to church to attend Mass. Some do so because they want to grow closer to God and be nourished by His word and by the Eucharist. Some do so out of habit, or to fulfil the Sunday obligation. But whatever reasons we may have for attending Mass, one important fact remains: are we properly prepared for Mass? Some of you may be wondering: “this padre is crazy; what do you mean prepared? Surely we are prepared! We got up early, showered and cleaned ourselves well, got the kids ready, made sure everyone is dressed properly, and made effort to come to church early.” While all these are good, but what may be lacking or missing is this: are you prepared spiritually, that is, have you examined yourselves carefully and gone for confession to clear any sins, especially serious ones?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us of the need to be prepared: “See that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit. Be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes.” While it is commendable for us to make effort to attend Mass, we should also not neglect in keeping our souls spick and span. May we be diligent and consistent in our preparations to meet the Lord, for the betterment of our souls.

Some of us seem to be so preoccupied in maintaining cleanliness in our homes and even keeping our bodies clean. We would make so much effort to sweep and mop the house regularly, and most of us would take a bath at least once a day, and some even put on nice smelling perfume. But all these efforts to maintaining cleanliness are merely external cleanliness. What about our internal cleanliness, that is, the cleanliness of our soul?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus admonished the Pharisees when he said: “Oh, you Pharisees! You clean the outside of cup and plate, while inside yourselves you are filled with extortion and wickedness. Fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside too? Instead, give alms from what you have and then indeed everything will be clean for you.” The Pharisees focused so much on external practices, including so-called practices in cleanliness, that they neglected in keeping their souls clean. We too could be just as guilty as the Pharisees, by only putting on a facade of being clean on the outside, but what about the inside, our soul? May we come to realise that the cleanliness of our soul is more important, and may we do something to maintain the cleanliness of our soul, for our eternal future.

Some of us may have heard of the idiom, “once bitten twice shy,” which basically means when something or someone has hurt you once, you tend to avoid that thing or person. In the case of Jonah, this time he complied with God’s command, after having had the unpleasant experience of being in the fish’s belly for three days and threes nights and later vomited out on shore. Jonah went to warn the Ninevites of the impending doom coming their way. The Ninevites took Jonah’s warning seriously, and even the King of Nineveh issued a decree: “Men and beasts, herds and flocks, are to taste nothing; they must not eat, they must not drink water. All are to put on sackcloth and call on God with all their might; and let everyone renounce his evil behaviour and the wicked things he has done. Who knows if God will not change his mind and relent, if he will not renounce his burning wrath, so that we do not perish?”

The reading then tells us that “God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour, and God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened.” In the same way, when we listen to God’s warning and act upon it, we too may experience what the Ninevites experienced, and we would also avoid going through the unpleasant experience of Jonah. Are we willing to take seriously what God is telling us, before it is too late?

Sometimes we come across people who try to throw their weight around and claim that they have a special relationship or friendship with the bishop or parish priest, especially if it involves blood or family relationship. Such people think that, just because they are related to the bishop or parish priest in some way, they have the right to demand certain benefits, special treatment, or perks. But as Christians, do we have a right to demand such things? What sort of attitude should we have?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us: “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” To Jesus, having a special friendship, relationship or even familial relationship with Him is not good enough. As Christians, we should not only hear God’s word, since anyone could do that and still not do anything. What is more important to Jesus is that we not just hear God’s word, but also act upon it. That is why we should not get caught up with mere relationships, no matter how close we may claim to be with Jesus, but we should be focusing more on hearing God’s word and sharing it with others.

Have you ever wondered why you are unable to grow in your spiritual life? One reason is because some of us are still clinging on to other things or persons, which we are reluctant to let go. These things and persons may be our wealth, riches, titles, popularity, fame, or even loved ones, but when we cling on and focus on these other things, we are actually being burdened by them, for we fear that if we do not pay attention to them, we worry that they may be lost or stolen.

In today’s Gospel, “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you solemnly, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.’ When the disciples heard this they were astonished. ‘Who can be saved, then?’ they said. Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men’ he told them ‘this is impossible; for God everything is possible.'” The eye of a needle is a door which is shaped in such a way that a camel or any person carrying or clinging to too many things would not be able to pass through. It is only when the things are removed that one could pass through easily.

In the same way, each of us may be finding it difficult to pass through our very own “eye of a needle” to become closer to God. Our deeds and our sins may have become quite numerous; burdening and bogging us down, making it quite difficult or even impossible for us to move on. It is only when we have unloaded or removed such burdens that we would then be able to move closer to God. The question is: are we so fearful or proud to remove such burdens, or are we willing to let go and let God be our guide? God is beckoning us to come to Him so that He can care for us, it is up to us to discard that which is temporary, so that we may attain that which is for all eternity.

We sometimes hear certain folks saying: “children are to be seen, not heard.” Not only that, children are often treated according the demands, rules and regulations of their parents, teachers and those who are caring for them in one way or another. Most of the time, children have got little rights, as all that they have, all that they depend on, comes from their parents or guardian. For example, a child in school cannot just get up and go to the toilet as he or she likes. The child would often need to get permission from the teacher first before being allowed to go. Seeing all these, how can then a child be considered great, as mentioned in today’s Gospel?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus told His disciples: “I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” What Jesus is telling us is not be become childish. Rather, He is telling us to be like little children, by being dependent on God and trusting in His providence. As adults, we tend to try and do things our way or live according to what we think is right, but sometimes what we are doing and the way we are living may not necessarily be best for us. That is why Jesus is inviting us to put more trust in God and let Him care for us, since God will not abandon us. Are we willing to be child-like and let God be in charge of our lives, for our physical and spiritual well-being, and for His greater glory?