Category Archives: Wednesday

Do we understand what the words mercy and compassion mean? We often say such words, especially when we are the ones asking for mercy and compassion, but when it involves others, especially those who have done great harm towards us, towards our loved ones, or even towards others, do we have the same attitude of mercy and compassion? Quite likely, some of us may wish just retribution towards those who have cause such harm. But if we consider a moment: do we fight evil with evil? How different are we if we demand retribution towards those who have done harm, and we respond with hate, anger and rage?

In today’s reading, Jonah was sulking and fuming because God did not punish the people of Nineveh, because these people had renounce their evil behaviour. Jonah had expected divine retribution from God, because the Ninevites were Israel’s sworn enemies. But what Jonah failed to realise and appreciate is that God is merciful and compassionate to all, not just to the Israelites, and He is slow to anger, rich in graciousness, relenting from evil.

If God is so compassionate and merciful towards all, even towards those whom some perceive to be evil-doers, than what about us? Do we still insist for an eye for an eye, or retribution come what may? Or have we learnt to be like God, who is patient, loving, compassionate, and merciful to all?

In today’s reading, we come across Nehemiah who was a slave and the king’s wine-attendant. The duty of a wine-attendant was to ensure that the wine tasted good and was not laced with poison. If the wine tasted bad, Nehemiah could lose his head. Not only that, Nehemiah had to serve the wine with a happy face, otherwise he could be punished. So when the king asked why did he look so sad and what was in his heart, a great fear came upon him, because he risked punishment for looking sad, and he wanted to go back to his homeland to rebuild his ancestral city, but he was afraid that the king might get offended by his requests.

Nehemiah called on the God of heaven, and then made his request to the king. To his surprise, all that he asked for, even the timber for building of the Temple, was granted. Why was Nehemiah able to have all his requests granted? Because Nehemiah called on the Lord first, and the favour of the Lord was upon him. So the next time we are faced with any choices or decisions, and before we make a choice or decision, let us call on the Lord first, so that His favour would be upon us.

During our parents time, when they were young, life was not as easy and convenient as it is nowadays. Back then, people had to struggle to survive, some would have experienced the horrors of war, life was full of uncertainty, especially if one was living under colonial rule, and many challenges and difficulties lay ahead. But people did their best to remain sane and cheerful, and go through life as best they could. In contrast, how many of us appreciate what our parents went through so that we could live better, more peaceful and happier lives? How many of us give thanks for the sacrifices and perseverances of our parents, so that we could be where we are today?

In today’s reading, Ezra looked at his people and remembered how they were sent into exile. They had sinned against the Lord and were punished by being conquered by their enemies, and sent into captivity and slavery. But the Lord was merciful and now a remnant has come back to rebuild the Temple. Ezra remembered the past and he was taking nothing for granted in the present, and was grateful and thankful to God for His love, care and mercy.

What about us? Are we taking things for granted for the many good things and peaceful lives we have today? Do we show gratitude and thankfulness for the many sacrifices made by those who have gone before us? May we always remain grateful and humbled, and never forget to let God be in the central of our lives. Otherwise we may face the danger that when we have too much of everything, we become proud and arrogant, and our relationship with God could be reduced to almost nothing.

We sometimes come across people who say things that hurt, but what they say is the truth and makes sense. Some of such persons are called prophets, since what they are saying is to bring us back to our senses and help us realign ourselves with what is actual church teaching. However, those of us who say such things may not be appreciated or accepted by those who do not want to face the truth or accept the facts. Such persons would go to great lengths to try and discredit the prophet, in an attempt to safeguard the status quo or to maintain their interpretation of what they claim the church teaches, no matter how distorted or diverted the so called teaching may be.

In today’s Gospel, the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees and Jesus were in constant conflict, as the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees had their own interpretation of religion and its practices, which was constantly challenged by Jesus.The chief priests, scribes and Pharisees tried to make Jesus dance to their tune but He wouldn’t and He even said of them: “We played the pipes for you, and you wouldn’t dance; we sang dirges, and you wouldn’t cry.” Because Jesus and John the Baptist didn’t conform, the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees labelled them as “possessed” and “glutton and drunkard.” But as we know, it is the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees who had become “possessed” and “glutton and drunkard,” since they were the ones who had interpreted God’s laws according to their whims and fancies, instead of what is true.

What about us? Are we just as guilty like the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees, coming up with our own interpretations just because what the church teaches is not to our liking? May we come to realise what is true, and teach the truth accordingly, not what what we like or what suits us.

Are we a generous people? Or are we an envious people? If we are a generous people then we should rejoice in the success and good fortune of others. The blessings that they receive reveal God’s goodness and generosity. If we are an envious people, then our hearts have become restricted and cold, so that it cannot rejoice in the good of others, much less, give to them. The envious person constantly compares himself or herself to others, forever worrying that somehow, somewhere, someone is receiving more than he or she.

In today’s Gospel, the landowner is confronted by envious workers who accused him of being unfair because he made the last ones, who worked only one hour, equal to them, by giving all of them egual wages. But what is the real purpose of this parable? Its real purpose is to emphasise the truth that we have a God who is compassionate, merciful and generous. His actions go beyond the human understanding of fairness and justice. God gives us His blessings not because we merit them but they are absolutely His free gift to us.

So the question we need to ask ourselves is this: are we grateful for the many gifts that God has given us, and are willing to be generous and loving to others, just as God is to us? Or do we have envy and jealously in our hearts, always expecting to receive more and more, and yet reluctant or unwilling to give? May we learn to be like our loving God, ever so generous and loving to all.

Once in a while, we come into conflict or have an issue with another person. The conflict or issue could be a small one or even a big one, but when we are faced with such conflict or issue, what do we do? Do we deal with the confilct or issue in an amicable manner? Or do we begin to gossip about the other person or belittle the person behind his or her back? Do we speak to the person first, and try to resolve the conflict or issue among the parties affected? Or do we allow our pride and ego to take control, and go straight to the person’s superior or leader, hoping to get some gratification by seeing the person being disciplined by the superior or leader?

In today’s Gospel, we are reminded about how we should deal with people, especially when there is a conflict or issue at hand. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us: “If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.”

What does the Gospel tells us? It tells us that when it comes to dealing with conflict or issues, we should do so in a gradual manner, step-by-step. We should do our utmost to resolve the matter among the parties affected first, and go to a higher authority only after all avenues in dealing with the conflict or issue privately have been exhausted. If we really and truly value our relationships, let us be mindful of how we treat others, since we too would want to be treated fairly, justly and with proper dignity.

If a person makes a promise to you, would you believe him or her? If the person is someone you have trusted all this while, then it may be a no brainer to believe. But supposing the person is not someone close, would you still believe? Supposing the promise is made by a politician, would you believe? Or would you remain skeptical and think that such promises are just mere words, meant to be broken when necessary? How then would you trust and believe, when a promise is made?

In today’s reading, God told Moses to send a reconnaissance team to the land of Canaan which He was giving to the sons of Israel. This team was made up of the leaders of each tribe of Israel, and they were to give a report of the land that God had promised to give to Israel after 40 days of reconnaissance. When they came back, they showed the people the produce of the land and indeed it was a good and fertile land, a land flowing with milk and honey. But they also said that the people in that land were a powerful people, that they were no match against them, and they began to disparage the land. The people raised their voices, cried aloud and wailed in despair, forgetting that it was a land that the Lord had promised them. The people forgot that what the Lord had promised, He will deliver, and they didn’t want to believe in the promises God made to them. God did not break His promise; instead it was the people who broke faith in God.

What about us? If God were to make a promise to you, would you still remain skeptical? Sometimes we just need to have a little more faith and trust that God would fulfil His promise in His time and for His glory.