Category Archives: Tuesday

It is interesting to observe how some people seem to hold back on their time and wealth when it comes to certain situations, whereas they can be generous or lavish in other situations. For example, some people seem to have no qualms about buying an expensive car, or a luxurious house, or invest in some business, but they do not seem so generous when it comes to their wealth and time in church matters, church activities, assisting in programmes to help the poor, and other works of charity. Some of such people even demand many things from the church, but seem quite stingy or reluctant to give. Why is this so? Are some people so selfish, self-centered and self-serving, where “me, myself and I” seems more important than the wellbeing of the community?

In today’s reading, we are reminded “Honour the Lord with generosity, do not stint the first-fruits you bring. Add a smiling face to all your gifts, and be cheerful as you dedicate your tithes. Give to the Most High as he has given to you, generously as your means can afford; for the Lord is a good rewarder, he will reward you seven times over.” God has been so generous to all of us in many ways, but some of us seem to be knowing only to take but not willing to give. Have we forgotten to be grateful and thankful for God’s providence, and share what we have with others, to the best of our abilities? May we learn to be generous, just as God has been generous to us.

Some of the things we need to be prepared for when we want to serve God is the possibility of rejection, persecution, and even being put to death. Over the centuries, we have seen many saints and martyrs who proclaimed the faith with vigour, and some even went to their death for the faith. Some may have been spared torture or persecution, but they experienced hardship and many difficulties, especially when the faith was being proclaimed in new areas where the people and the conditions of the place was generally unknown.

In today’s reading, we are being affirmed and encouraged to persevere while serving God. The reading tells us: “My son, if you aspire to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for an ordeal. Be sincere of heart, be steadfast, and do not be alarmed when disaster comes. Cling to him and do not leave him, so that you may be honoured at the end of your days. Whatever happens to you, accept it, and in the uncertainties of your humble state, be patient, since gold is tested in the fire, and chosen men in the furnace of humiliation. Trust him and he will uphold you, follow a straight path and hope in him.” Let us not give up or waver in our vigour, but increase our efforts, knowing that God will guide us and help us in all we do, for His greater glory.

When we speak of yeast, we normally speak of a kind of substance which enables bread to expand and rise, making the bread more pleasing to look at and eat once baked. In today’s Gospel, Jesus warned us of a “yeast” which is a little different. What sort of yeast is Jesus trying to tell us? Jesus was speaking about a kind of “yeast” that was both religious and political which we should watch out for. This “yeast” refers to “attitude”; and the “attitude” of the Pharisees and the “attitude” of Herod could corrupt one’s “attitude” as a Christian.

The “yeast” of the Pharisees is narrow-minded religious exclusivism. It is an attitude that says only those who believe and behave like the Pharisees are saved, everyone else is damned or are of no consequence. The “yeast” of Herod, on the other hand, is the exact opposite of the Pharisees. Herod was prepared to water down the Jewish faith to suit his purposes. Herod was only interested in preserving His political power, and was not the least bit interested in doing the will of God.

What about us? Have we been corrupted or infected with the “yeast” of the Pharisees and the “yeast” of Herod? Have we been behaving as religious extremists like the Pharisees, thinking that our beliefs and way of doing things is the only way? Or have we become so worldly in our behaviour and conduct, only interested in protecting our power, position and prestige, and watering down our faith or even totally ignoring the ways of God? May we take caution and not be infected or corrupted by such “yeast,” and in all things do with love and moderation, for the glory of God.

Some of us may have been guilty of being scrupulous in our way of life. What does scrupulous mean? It basically means that a person is very concerned to avoid doing wrong, and the person would come up with all kinds of laws or restrictions to prevent any possible wrong the person thinks could be commited. One example of being scrupulous would be the way some Jews live their lives even today. During the sabbath, some hotels would have the elevators stop and open at every floor, so that such Jews would not need to push the elevator floor button, since to such Jews, even pushing the elevator floor button is considered work, and they believe that no work can be done during the sabbath, no matter how minute the task may be.

In today’s Gospel, we come across another example of being scrupulous in the Pharisees and some of the scribes, who thought that loving God means following their traditions and way of life. These people were so extreme in following their own rules and regulations, so much so that they were even willing to circumvent or bypass the true meaning of God’s laws, for the convenience and observance of their own, for they were more concerned about avoiding doing wrong. This is why Jesus scolded them when He exclaimed: “It was of you hypocrites that Isaiah so rightly prophesied in this passage of scripture: This people honours me only with lip-service, while their hearts are far from me. The worship they offer me is worthless, the doctrines they teach are only human regulations. You put aside the commandment of God to cling to human traditions.”

What about us? Are we guilty of being scrupulous? Let us be mindful and careful not to become like these Pharisees and scribes, who do things in such a scrupulous manner, only to appear to be good and holy. Let us instead follow the example of Jesus, who loves us all and does all things for the greater glory of God.

Many of us say we have faith in Jesus, but how many of us really mean what we say? Do we have faith in Jesus only when times are good or when the situation suits us, or do we have faith at all times? Supposing we are being persecuted, ridiculed or even being put to death, would we still have faith in Jesus? Or would some of us abandon our faith just to save our skin? Are consistent and steadfast in our faith, or is it only for our convenience?

In today’s Gospel, the synagogue official named Jairus and the woman who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years had great faith in Jesus. Because of their faith in Jesus, Jairus’ daughter was brought back to life, and the woman was cured from the haemorrhage she suffered. If Jesus could work such miracles for these people, just imagine what He could do for us, if we have consistent, persistent and unwavering faith in Him. May we learn to be patient and ask Jesus for His help, knowing with full confidence that He will do what is best for us, for the glory of God.

Do you know what is a sickle? No, it does not mean someone is being sick, but it is a type of a hand-held agricultural tool with a curved, sharp blade used for harvesting grain crops or cutting certain edible plants to feed livestock. It is an ancient tool effective for reaping and harvesting, and if used as a weapon, it can be deadly and dangerous. You definitely would not want to be at the receiving end of a sickle, since the cut could be devastating, or even mortally wounding (in other words, one could get killed quite easily if struck by a sickle).

In the 1st reading, the sickles were being used for a harvest of a different sort; it was the harvest of the earth, and it refers to the judgement of the earth. In the reading, we are told that “the angel set his sickle to work on the earth and harvested the whole vintage of the earth and put it into a huge winepress, the winepress of God’s anger.” While the imagery of the reading may seem terrifying, its message is meant to awaken us from our complacency and our indifference to the call for repentance. Are we willing to change our ways, turn away from our sins, and return to the Lord’s ways?