Category Archives: Weekday

Every once in a while, I come across people who seem to have so many ideas and suggestions to make, and yet when they are asked to carry out such ideas and suggestions, they would suddenly back off and say that they are too busy, no time, unqualified and so many other excuses made. For example, there are people who have suggested that the church needs to have a funeral parlour, since more and more people are staying in apartments or condominiums, and such housing may not have a suitable place for a wake. However, when such persons are asked to take charge of such a project and see it through, they all of a sudden have cold feet and try to push the task to others. Indeed, coming out with lots of ideas and suggestions is easy, but carrying them out is a different matter.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus told the people to listen to what the scribes and Pharisees tell them since they occupy the chair of Moses, but not to be guided by what they do, since they do not practise what they preach. The scribes and Pharisees knew how to talk, and everything they did was to attract attention and make them appear as if they were holy and pious. But being holy and pious is not just about words, but also about action, or action speaks louder than words, or walk the talk, so to speak.

What about us? Do we know only how to talk and make all sorts of suggestions and demands, without any further action? Or are we willing to do our part in seeing that what we suggest is carefully considered, planned and eventually materialised? May we learn to be humble and zealous in doing what is right, and glorify God in all we do.

Some of us are so used to doing so many things, but how many of us take time to listen to what we are doing, and ponder whether what we are doing is really God’s will or our own will? We may appear very busy doing so many things, but sometimes what is being done may not be necessary or just a waste of time; or what is done may turn out to be just to boost our pride and ego. Even when it comes to loving God, some of us may be loving God through lots of actions, but are these actions really necessary and according to His will?

In today’s reading, “Moses said to the people: ‘Listen, Israel: the Lord our God is the one Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength. Let these words I urge on you today be written on your heart.” Notice that in the reading, the first and foremost thing that the people need to do is not to carry out lots of tasks to show their love, but simply to listen. When the people listen carefully to God, they would come to realise that loving God means to love totally and completely and this includes discerning His will.

What about us? Are we really listening to God and doing His will? If we say that we love God, then we must be prepared to love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength; and the very first thing we ought to do is to listen. Let us listen carefully and attentively to God’s promptings, and glorify God in all that we say and do.

Words spoken can be misinterpreted or misheard. Sometimes certain parties could take what is said, and twist or change the words according to their interpretation or for their benefit. This is is especially true when it comes to agreements or contracts, since what is said by one party could be heard differently by another, leading to misunderstandings or even legal action. That is why, no matter what, it is necessary for words to be put in writing, and to further reinforce what has been written, such written words are signed by parties involved, to seal the deal, so to speak.

In today’s reading, “Moses went and told the people all the commands of the Lord and all the ordinances. In answer, all the people said with one voice, ‘We will observe all the commands that the Lord has decreed.’ Moses put all the commands of the Lord into writing… Then Moses took the blood and cast it towards the people. This’ he said ‘is the blood of the Covenant that the Lord has made with you, containing all these rules.’ From the reading, we can see that Moses not only told the people the commands of the Lord, he also had the covenant signed on the people with the blood from the bullocks. This means that the people had “sealed the deal” with the Lord in writing, and they had no longer any excuse to misinterpret or misunderstand the terms and conditions of the Covenant.

In our situation, we had “sealed the deal” with God when we were baptised. We even went through catechism classes or RCIA to make sure we understood the terms of God’s Covenant. Moreover, we reinforced our Covenant with God when we received Confirmation. This means that we have no excuse to misinterpret or misunderstand the terms and conditions of the Covenant. May we observe all God’s Covenant without excuses or neglect, and encourage others to do the same.

In today’s reading, we are told that “The sons of Israel left Rameses for Succoth… People of various sorts joined them in great numbers; there were flocks, too, and herds in immense droves. They baked cakes with the dough which they had brought from Egypt, unleavened because the dough was not leavened; they had been driven out of Egypt, with no time for dallying, and had not provided themselves with food for the journey.”

For some, being driven out of one’s country may seem like a tragic or terrible thing. But in the case of the sons of Israel, the reason was to rescue them from Pharoah and Egypt, and as such, it was actually a better thing. We too may have experienced being driven out of a bad or even sinful situation, even if it means we have no time for dallying. By being driven out in this way, it no longer becomes a tragic or terrible situation, but a situation meant to rescue us from evil, and to help us remain in God’s ways. Are we willing to be driven out and led by God? Or are we still insisting to remain in servitude in Egypt?

Imagine you are a childless couple and are already getting on in years, and you had guests at your house. While having a meal, one of the guest suddenly says: “I shall visit you again next year without fail, and your wife will then have a son.” How would you respond? Quite likely some would say, “don’t be silly, my wife and I are too old”; some might say, “oh come on, don’t talk rubbish, factory closed long time ago (the ‘factory’ here refers the fertility period of a woman, before she hits menopause).”

This is exactly how Sarah in today’s reading responded when she heard such words. In the reading, “Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, ‘Now that I am past the age of child-bearing, and my husband is an old man, is pleasure to come my way again!’” Yet, the guest in the reading did not take it as a joke or a laughing matter and re-emphasised, “Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the same time next year I shall visit you again and Sarah will have a son.”

Now, this does not mean that elderly childless couples should get worried or concerned about conceiving at an old age and bearing a child. If it really happens, then we should praise God for such a miracle. But what it means is, if God can enable Sarah to conceive at an old age, just imagine what He can do for us if we are to consistently pray and ask Him. May we not laugh or scoff at such things, since God can make a way, even though there seems to be no way. May we put our trust in Him, and let Him do what is best for us, for His purpose and glory.

Today’s Gospel tells us not to worry, since worry would not solve anything. Instead, worry could cause us to do things in a rash manner or in a way which could make things worse. The problem with some of us is we worry and fret about so many things in life, that we neglect to trust in God and walk in His ways. We fail to realise or even admit that many things in life are beyond our control and worrying and fretting will not solve anything.

Instead of worrying or fretting, let us leave it in the hands of God, be grateful and thankful for the many things God grants us, and remain in His care. Let us not one day end up with regrets later for not taking things as they come and letting God take care of things. After all, if God can provide the many things around us with what they need, surely He would provide us with what we need at the right time and at the right place, according to His plan.

Why do we get involved in various church activities and ministries? Do we do so because we want to serve God and His people? Or do we do so because we want to gain some recognition or fame? Do we serve because we want to glorify God in all that we say or do? Or are we trying to gain glory to boost our pride and ego? Are we serving because we want to be respected and noticed? Or are we humble enough to serve quietly, sometimes unknown and unappreciated, but nonetheless continuing to serve with dedication and commitment?

In today’s Gospel, “Jesus said, ‘Beware of the scribes who like to walk about in long robes, to be greeted obsequiously in the market squares, to take the front seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets; these are the men who swallow the property of widows, while making a show of lengthy prayers. The more severe will be the sentence they receive.’”

Have some of us become like the scribes, who appear to be serving but expecting to be noticed and recognised? Or are we able to resist the need to be recognised and admired, check our motives and intentions, and serve not for ourselves but for the glory of God?