Category Archives: Wednesday

For some religions, there are certain restrictions to what can and cannot be eaten. Some of such religions would specify whether it is “kosher or not” to eat something, or whether it is “halal or haram” (Malay for ‘allowed or forbidden to be eaten.’) However, we sometimes come across followers of such religions who focus so much on such dietary laws, that they neglect, ignore or fail to observe more important aspects of God’s laws such as love, mercy, compassion, justice, fairness and many others. They may appear to be pious in what can or cannot be consumed, or even how they look in public, only to be hypocritical in their behaviour and conduct. For example, such persons would avoid eating in a shop which does not have a sign to say that the food sold in such a shop can be eaten by followers of a certain religion, but they seem to turn a blind eye or are ignorant of the corruption, injustice or other malpractices happening around them.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us: “Can you not see that whatever goes into a man from outside cannot make him unclean, because it does not go into his heart but through his stomach and passes out into the sewer? It is what comes out of a man that makes him unclean. For it is from within, from men’s hearts, that evil intentions emerge: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within and make a man unclean.” Some of us may appear to be holy and focus on external practices, but our hearts may be twisted or hide nasty or cruel intentions. Let us take heed and be honest with ourselves, and make every effort to shy away from all that drives us away from our relationship with our loving God.

Each and every one of us go through some form of suffering in life. Suffering is part and parcel of life. We suffer because of illness, growth, lost relationships and many other reasons. While we cannot avoid suffering, what is more important is how we treat suffering. We could see suffering as a good or positive thing; or we could see it as a bad or negative thing.

In today’s reading, we are reminded of the necessity and advantages of suffering. We are told: “Have you forgotten that encouraging text in which you are addressed as sons? My son, when the Lord corrects you, do not treat it lightly; but do not get discouraged when he reprimands you. For the Lord trains the ones that he loves and he punishes all those that he acknowledges as his sons. Suffering is part of your training; God is treating you as his sons. Has there ever been any son whose father did not train him? Of course, any punishment is most painful at the time, and far from pleasant; but later, in those on whom it has been used, it bears fruit in peace and goodness. So hold up your limp arms and steady your trembling knees and smooth out the path you tread; then the injured limb will not be wrenched, it will grow strong again.”

When we suffer punishment from God, it is not because God does not like us or is out to get us, it is because God treats us as His sons and daughters. We are being trained to become better people, and grow closer to God. Let us look at suffering as something good and worthwhile, for we are being prepared to remain happy and cared for in God’s loving presence.

Some of us think that when we are persecuted, mocked or put on trial, we should be bold and say many things in defence. Some of us think that to be vocal and loud is the better solution, since some of us think that keeping silent means that one is agreeing to the accusations or one has no defence at all. But sometimes, confidence is silent and dignified, whereas insecurities are loud and offensive, since being silent means one is confident in oneself and considers such accusations to be nonsense, baseless, and not worth arguing about.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us: “Keep this carefully in mind: you are not to prepare your defence, because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict.” The eloquence and wisdom here need not necessarily mean that we would be inspired to say many things, since a smile and keeping silent could be just as effective and deafening as using many words. There were times Jesus made profound statements of truth; but there were also times when He just remained silent. A smile is one way to solve many problems; and silence is one way to avoid many problems; and at times, Jesus has shown us that being silent with a smile is a better way or a good answer to insults and false accusations. Do we still need to say so many things, when being silent with a smile is sometimes all that is needed?

Why do people obey? In some cases, people are not really obeying, but are simply complying to the instructions or demands of their superiors or leaders. People comply due to a number of reasons: some do so because it is in their best interest or advantage; some out of fear; some because of peer pressure; some for family, job or personal security. But how many of us obey according to the Christian context, that is to hear, trust, submit and surrender to God, letting Him be our providence and guide? How many of us are wholeheartedly, willingly, humbly, happily and faithfully obeying?

In today’s reading, St. Paul reminds us: “Children, be obedient to your parents in the Lord – that is your duty… And parents, never drive your children to resentment but in bringing them up correct them and guide them as the Lord does. Slaves, be obedient to the men who are called your masters in this world, with deep respect and sincere loyalty, as you are obedient to Christ: not only when you are under their eye, as if you had only to please men, but because you are slaves of Christ and wholeheartedly do the will of God. Work hard and willingly, but do it for the sake of the Lord and not for the sake of men… And those of you who are employers, treat your slaves in the same spirit; do without threats, remembering that they and you have the same Master in heaven and he is not impressed by one person more than by another.” When we obey our parents, superiors or masters, we do so because we want to obey God and do things for the sake of the Lord. Our purpose and intention is to do what is pleasing to God. May we obey for the right reasons and right intentions, so that in all we do, may we give God the glory.

Throughout history, we have seen how certain ethnic groups have thought that God cares only for them and would protect them. One such ethnic group were the Israelites, and they thought that God would only their guide. These Israelites thought that they had a monopoly over God, and that God would only focus bringing salvation to them and them alone.

But the suprising thing is this: In today’s reading, St. Paul reminds us: “it means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body, and that the same promise has been made to them, in Jesus Christ, through the gospel.” St. Paul reminded the Israelites, and us to, that God cannot be confined solely to us, since He has brought salvation to these pagans too. If God has given such pagans a share the same inheritance, then we should not segregate or avoid the many “pagans” in our society. Instead, we should be united with them in glorifying God in all we do, so that together, others would know what it means to be Christian.

What sort of “spirit” are we living in? Are we living a spirit of self-indulgence? Or are we being “led by the Spirit?” Some of us may be living in a spirit of self-indulgence, especially when we are involved in “fornication, gross indecency and sexual irresponsibility; idolatry and sorcery; feuds and wrangling, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels; disagreements, factions, envy; drunkenness, orgies and similar things.” All these things would lead us away from God, as St. Paul in today’s reading has cautioned us: “I warn you now, as I warned you before: those who behave like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

However, if we are being “led by the Spirit” as mentioned by St. Paul in today’s reading, then “What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control. There can be no law against things like that, of course. You cannot belong to Christ Jesus unless you crucify all self-indulgent passions and desires. Since the Spirit is our life, let us be directed by the Spirit.”

At the end of the day, we are invited to choose: whether to be led by a spirit of self-indulgence, or to be led by the Spirit of God. How we live our lives today, what sort of spirit are we being led, is up to us to decide, and we should be ready and prepared to face the consequences or rewards.

What do we do when a person has said or done something wrong? Surely we would counsel the person, or even reprimand him or her for his or her words and actions. But sometimes, we come across people who practice double standards. When it comes to rich or influential persons, such people would be extra nice or kind to them; but when it comes to the poor or the meek or the marginalised, such people may treat them like dirt. What should we do, if we call ourselves Christians? Are we impartial, or do we practice double standards?

In today’s reading, we see St. Paul being bold and willing to tell St. Peter off in his face. Even though St. Peter was an apostle and could be considered an influential person, St. Paul was impartial in his counsel. St. Peter was wrong by suddenly changing his attitude towards eating with pagans, just because a certain group of friends of James arrived. St. Peter may have been unwilling to create tension or issues with those group of friends of James, but his conduct was unbecoming of an apostle, who is supposed to be impartial, loving and fair to all, without fear or favour. Because of this, St. Paul gave St. Peter a piece of his mind: he told him off!

What about us? As Christians, are we being fair and loving to all, regardless of status, rank, or importance? Let us be impartial towards others, so that others would know and understand what it means to be a disciple of Christ.