Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: Weekday

Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent

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Whenever we experience a life-changing event, a part of us becomes different. We are no longer the person we were before. For example, when we were baptised, we were given a baptism name as a new identity, a new beginning, a child of God, and a member of a Christian community. Our old self dies and our new self emerges.

This was also the case with Abram, who God renamed as Abraham. God made a covenant with Abraham to be observed by him and his descendants. Notice here that it is God who takes the initiative and invites us to come closer to Him. God made the covenant with Abraham but He did not force it down Abraham’s throat. Abraham had a choice; to follow or not to follow. Most of us would assume that it would be absurd for us to not follow, but it is indeed surprising that some of us choose not to follow. Sometimes, even our attitude, behaviour, way of life, etc. are indications of our choice of whether we want to be close to God or otherwise. Ultimately, we are given free will to choose. May we choose wisely as our choice would be for eternity.

Wednesday of the 5th Week of Lent

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How many of us are willing to admit our mistakes or wrongdoing and give glory to God? Some of us may try to hide our mistakes by sweeping it under the carpet, hoping that no one would take notice or take action. Some of us may try to find a scapegoat and avoid taking responsibility. How many of us are willing to take responsibility, say sorry, reconcile and move on?

Today’s reading tells us of King Nebuchadnezzar. Even though initially, King Nebuchadnezzar appeared to be quite arrogant and hard headed, and even had Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego thrown into the fiery furnace for defying his order to worship his gods, King Nebuchadnezzar was willing to admit that God is the One True God when he exclaimed: “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: he has sent his angel to rescue the servants who, putting their trust in him, defied the order of the king, and preferred to forfeit their bodies rather than serve or worship any god but their own.” This shows that King Nebuchadnezzar was not as arrogant or hard headed as initially thought.

What about us? Are we able to open the eyes of our hearts and recognise our strengths and failings? Are we humble enough to admit our wrongdoings, seek forgiveness and reconciliation, and move on while growing closer to God?

Tuesday of the 5th Week of Lent

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Some people can never be satisfied. You give them an inch, and they want a yard. You give them a room, and they may try to take over your house. You accommodate to their demands, and they may gradually end up taking away your rights completely. Even then, they may still be unsatisfied.

Today’s reading shows us how the Israelites lost patience and spoke against God and against Moses. Despite the many things done for them and the many things given to them, they were still not satisfied. When they were afflicted with fiery serpents, they begged Moses to intercede for them and they were rescued. However, did they learn their lesson? No. They became not satisfied over and over and over again. Did God give up on them? No. He continuously cared for them, no matter how ungrateful or dissatisfied they were.

What about us? Are we still not satisfied? Do we expect God and others to “kow tow” or adhere to our demands all the time? When will we ever learn to be grateful and thankful for what we have and what God has given us?

Monday of the 5th Week of Lent

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Lust is a dangerous thing. It can lead people to commit lie, cheat, murder, and other hideous sins. The 2 elders in today’s reading were filled with lust. They were so blinded with lust that all things proper, just, righteous, fair, and dignified were thrown out of the window completely. They were only determined to seduce Susanna and they were willing to try all sorts of dirty tricks to get their way. Unfortunately for them, Daniel was wise enough to trap them and condemn them with their own words.

We too could be guilty of lust. Even though we may not have committed the act directly, Jesus reminds us that looking at a woman with lust can even cause us to commit adultery in our hearts. Are we not satisfied, contend and faithful with our spouse? Let us be extremely cautious and not allow ourselves to fall into lust, lest we bring ruin upon ourselves.

Housekeeping – 4th Week of Lent

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For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:

30 March 2014 – 4th Sunday of Lent Year A
31 March 2014 – Monday of the 4th Week of Lent
1 April 2014 – Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent
2 April 2014 – Wednesday of the 4th Week of Lent
3 April 2014 – Thursday of the 4th Week of Lent
4 April 2014 – Friday of the 4th Week of Lent

Friday of the 4th Week of Lent

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Are we blinded with anger, rage and malice? When we are blinded in such ways, we may do things which could only later lead to regret or in other situations, indifference. When we are proud, arrogant, stubborn, or selfish, we could end up being “blind” towards others.

Today’s reading cautions us: “This is the way they reason, but they are misled, their malice makes them blind. They do not know the hidden things of God, they have no hope that holiness will be rewarded, they can see no reward for blameless souls.” When we are unable to appreciate the goodness in others and their capabilities, when we refuse to admit our faults and shortcomings, when we become self-absorbed with our achievements, then we may become “blind” with jealousy which may lead to malice. We may begin to put other people down because we do not want competition and want to look good. Ultimately, we may end up trying to build our own kingdom. Have some of us fallen into such a state? Let us open our eyes, minds and hearts, and stay on our guard from being dragged into such a state.

Thursday of the 4th Week of Lent

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What sort of approval are we seeking? Are we looking for fame, approval, recognition, status and fortune here on earth? Or are we seeking a closer relationship with God? Sometimes we may be so zealous in one that we forget the other, or we think that one is more important than the other. Some of us think that God is too difficult to please or it takes too much time to have a right relationship with Him. But ultimately, what sort of approval do we really want to achieve?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says: “I have come in the name of my Father and you refuse to accept me; if someone else comes in his own name you will accept him. How can you believe, since you look to one another for approval and are not concerned with the approval that comes from the one God?” The Jews were so zealous in keeping with their customs and traditions, that they forgot the main reason why they were keeping such customs and traditions in the first place. Instead of keeping such customs and traditions so that they could grow in relationship with God, their focus began to sway and such customs and traditions are kept so that others would look up to them. Are we trying to draw attention to ourselves, for our self-gratification, to fuel our pride, to lord it over others? Or have we learnt to walk humbly before God and do things for His greater glory?

Wednesday of the 4th Week of Lent

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As we go about in life, we may be tempted to do things our way and for our own benefit. This is especially evident as we climb the career ladder, as we try to impress the boss with hope of getting a promotion, as we go out of our way to gain admiration or approval from our professors or teachers at university or at school, hoping that we would gain better grades. Even in church circles, we see some people trying to curry favour with the parish priest or bishop, hoping that they would gain prominence and perhaps some sort of important position or title.

However, today’s Gospel paints us a very different picture. Jesus tells us “I tell you most solemnly,
the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees the Father doing: and whatever the Father does the Son does too.” Towards the end of the Gospel, Jesus reminds us “I can do nothing by myself; I can only judge as I am told to judge, and my judging is just, because my aim is to do not my own will, but the will of him who sent me.” Are we doing things in obedience to the will of God? Or are we doing things for our own will? In the Lord’s Prayer, we are pray: “Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done.” Are we making effort and doing our part in building God’s Kingdom? Or are we only interested in building our kingdom?

Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent

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Some people can be extremists in the way they do things. One does not necessarily need to be killing or torturing other people to be called extremists. These sort of people are murderers, terrorists perhaps, but not all extremists do such things.

Today’s Gospel shows us one form of extremism. The Sabbath was meant for people to spend time in growing in relationship with God and not to do unnecessary work. Yet, certain Jews were so extreme that they interpreted unnecessary work to mean not doing anything at all. Even curing people and carrying or moving things is considered work to them. Even today, if we go to the Holy Land, some hotels observe the practice where, on the Sabbath, the lift or elevator will stop at every floor so that people would not need to “work” by pressing the button to whichever floor they wish to go to.

When Jesus cured the man, the Jews began to persecute Him because he was not observing their interpretation of the Sabbath. What about us? Are we extreme in our conduct in one way or another? Do we observe the Lord’s day and spend time with Him in prayer and listen to Him? Or are we so engrossed or extreme in our ways, that we fail to genuinely love God and neighbour?

Monday of the 4th Week of Lent

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How much do you trust God? Some people say that they trust God, and yet go to shamans, witch doctors, or even medicine men, thinking that these can help them or cure them. Some people say they trust God, but at the back of their mind, they doubt whether God is really listening and whether God would really heal them or help them. How many of us trust God unreservedly and wholeheartedly?

In today’s Gospel, a court official whose son was ill at Capernaum believed what Jesus had said and started on his way, trusting that Jesus would heal his son. When he received news that his son was healed, he and all his household believed. If we were put in a similar situation, would we believe that Jesus would heal us? Sometimes healing may take place immediately, at other times, gradually. Are we expecting Jesus to heal us according to our time-frame? Or are we willing to be patient and wait, knowing and trusting that Jesus would do what is best for us?