Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: Year 1

Tuesday of Week 31 Year 1

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Whenever you come to church, what is the first thing that you normally do? Some of us may kneel down in prayer, some may sit and spend time with the Lord, some may meet up with friends and chat a little, hopefully outside the church. But how many of us would make effort or go through the trouble to look around and see if there are any strangers or newcomers especially inside the church or near the church entrance? Do we make our church a place where all are welcomed?

In today’s reading, St. Paul reminds us: “Do not let your love be a pretence, but sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as brothers should, and have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying. If any of the saints are in need you must share with them; and you should make hospitality your special care.” Some of us may think that being welcoming and hospitable to others, especially strangers and newcomers, is solely the responsibility of the hospitality ministers. But if we consider ourselves brothers and sisters in Christ, sons and daughters of God, then shouldn’t being welcoming and hospitable to others be our responsibility and duty also? After all, we are part of God’s family, and surely there should be no strangers in God’s family.

Friday of Week 30 Year 1

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What is an extremist? An extremist is a person who holds extreme or fanatical political or religious views, especially one who resorts to or advocates extreme action. In each religion, we would encounter extremists in one way or another. It is precisely such extremists who give the religion a bad name, since what they do and their way of thinking is off the mark, or out of line with what is the actual teaching of the particular religion. What is supposed to be simple teaching is taken by such people and made into complicated and radical. Sometimes, such extremists do such things to draw attention to themselves, and to attract especially the young to join their cause.

In today’s Gospel, we come across a bunch of extremists who are the lawyers and the Pharisees. These folks held an extreme view about many things, one of which is concerning keeping the sabbath. To them, keeping the sabbath means no work can be done, not even good deeds. But Jesus caught them in an embarassing situation when He said: “‘Which of you here, if his son falls into a well, or his ox, will not pull him out on a sabbath day without hesitation?’ And to this they could find no answer.” Obviously, any right-minded person would rescue his son or his ox from danger without hesitation, even on the sabbath. But when we are dealing with extremists, their minds are so warped and they have become so stubborn and obstinate, that even doing such a good and merciful act is prohibited. This is why the lawyers and Pharisees could not and dared not answer Jesus’ challenge, since they would be conflicting their absurd position if they were to agree that such a good or merciful deed is permissable and lauded.

What about us? Are some of us extremists in one way or another? Have we put people off or caused disharmony in our community with our extreme views through our behaviour, attitude and conduct? Let us check ourselves and shed ourselves of such extreme views, so that we may learn to live and love according to the ways of the Lord once again.

Thursday of Week 30 Year 1

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At some point of our lives, some of us may feel as if life is quite difficult to continue living, especially when we are being ill-treated, persecuted, going through all sorts of suffering as Christians, or even facing the possibility of being put to death for our faith. Some of us may feel as if God has not come to our aid and that we are being left to fend for ourselves. Why do some of us allow ourselves to feel this way or have such thoughts in our minds? Don’t we have trust and faith in Jesus, knowing that He is our saviour and Lord?

In today’s reading, we are further encouraged to persevere and be patient: “Nothing therefore can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. As scripture promised: For your sake we are being massacred daily, and reckoned as sheep for the slaughter. These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us. For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The reading reminds and assures us that Jesus will help and guide us. If that is so, why do some of us still doubt? Do we expect Jesus to help and guide us according to our terms, or according to His terms and for His glory?

Tuesday of Week 30 Year 1

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There are some people who seem to think that just because they have been baptised, they have been assured salvation. Some of these people also believe that nothing that they do, no matter how big or small, would cause them to lose their “saved” status. Some have even claimed that they could commit serious sins like murder, and still be “saved.” But is this sort of thinking a Christian way of thinking?

In today’s reading, St. Paul reminds us: “For we must be content to hope that we shall be saved – our salvation is not in sight, we should not have to be hoping for it if it were – but, as I say, we must hope to be saved since we are not saved yet – it is something we must wait for with patience.” This means that we still need to continue living good Christian lives, as we await our hope for salvation. It also means that we cannot do as we please, thinking that we can get away with it, expecting to still be saved when what we have done is against God’s commandments. May we do our part and be consistent with our behaviour, conduct and attitude, so that others will know what being a Christian is really all about.

Monday of Week 30 Year 1

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It seems strange that there are people who think that the sabbath or the Lord’s Day is the day where nothing can be done, not even charitable deeds and deeds of mercy is allowed. Such people would frown upon others who do good on such a day, since in their mind, doing good is work. But what these people fail to realise is that work refers to labour, which is basically to make a living. But is doing good labour, to make a living; or is doing good a form of charity or works of mercy?

In today’s Gospel, the synagogue official obviosuly took a radical or extreme stand in what it means to keep the sabbath. To him, as well as to the scribes and Pharisees, any form of work, even if it is for charity or for works of mercy, is work and must be avoided at all cost on the sabbath. This caused Jesus to exclaim: “‘Hypocrites!’ he said ‘Is there one of you who does not untie his ox or his donkey from the manger on the sabbath and take it out for watering? And this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has held bound these eighteen years – was it not right to untie her bonds on the sabbath day?'”

When we are to stuck up with avoiding any form of work on the sabbath or on the Lord’s Day, we may be missing the point. We keep the Lord’s Day holy not by becoming lazy, complacent or indifferent towards others, but by showing our faith through our participation in church, as well as by our words and good deeds. May we come to realise the difference between unnecessary work, and work which shows our faith and helps others come to know us as Christians.

Friday of Week 29 Year 1

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Some of us may have had an issue with another person at some point of our lives. When this happens, what do we do? Some of us may try to ignore the issue altogether, thinking that it would be a waste of our time to try and argue over it or get it resolved. Some of us think that the other party is definitely in the wrong and we expect them to come crawling to us for forgiveness, even though we too may be in the wrong through our conduct, behaviour and actions. How many of us are willing to get the issue resolved amicably with the other party in a brotherly or sisterly way?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us: “Why not judge for yourselves what is right? For example: when you go to court with your opponent, try to settle with him on the way, or he may drag you before the judge and the judge hand you over to the bailiff and the bailiff have you thrown into prison. I tell you, you will not get out till you have paid the very last penny.” Are we so self-righteous or conceited that we think we are faultless and right, demanding that others admit their faults? Or have we come to a point that we are not bothered about the other person, and we choose to have nothing to do with him or her, causing ill-feelings, anger or even hatred to simmer and boil over? As Christians, we pray that God would forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Are we practising what we pray, or are we saying it blindly, without meaning, just to put on a show?

Thursday of Week 29 Year 1

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Most of us like to keep the peace, especially in our family and with our parents, siblings and other loved ones. We generally try not to get into major arguments as far as possible, and sometimes we learn to give and take so as to avoid ill feelings, as we would not want our family to break up and drift apart. But sometimes, we are put into a difficult situation. Supposing you are asked by your parents, siblings or other family members to do something which would keep the family united and at peace, but would cause you to break God’s commandment and commit sin? What would you do: Listen to your family, or listen to God?

This is why Jesus in today’s Gospel tells us: “Do you suppose that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on a household of five will be divided: three against two and two against three; the father divided against the son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” It may seem good to try and maintain family unity and happiness, but by doing so, we could be doing something which would cause us to commit sin. It is indeed a difficult choice, but it may be one we may need to make. Ultimately, we need to choose, and be prepared to take responsibility for the consequences, whether it be temporary, or eternal.

Wednesday of Week 29 Year 1

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Whose side are you on? Are you on the side of good? Or are you on the side of evil? Some of you may be saying: “Isn’t it obvious? Of course we are on the side of good!” But sometimes, we could be heading more and more towards the side of evil, especially when we sin, when we neglect to be loving and charitable towards others, when we think only about ourselves, when we allow pride and our ego to get the better of us, or when we are unable or refuse to forgive others.

In today’s reading, St. Paul reminds and cautions us: “You must not let sin reign in your mortal bodies or command your obedience to bodily passions, you must not let any part of your body turn into an unholy weapon fighting on the side of sin; you should, instead, offer yourselves to God, and consider yourselves dead men brought back to life; you should make every part of your body into a weapon fighting on the side of God; and then sin will no longer dominate your life, since you are living by grace and not by law.”

Some of you may be saying: “But being good is hard, it is difficult, how do we resist falling into sin?” Humanly speaking, it is difficult, because the ways of the world tempts us with so many attractions. But this is not an excuse for us to give up or despair, since we are helped by God’s grace, and when we go for confession regularly, we are actually making effort to keep our soul clean. May we not neglect the value and importance of regular confession, so that we may grow steadily in our relationship with God.

Tuesday of Week 29 Year 1

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For many Catholics, Sunday is the day where they go to church to attend Mass. Some do so because they want to grow closer to God and be nourished by His word and by the Eucharist. Some do so out of habit, or to fulfil the Sunday obligation. But whatever reasons we may have for attending Mass, one important fact remains: are we properly prepared for Mass? Some of you may be wondering: “this padre is crazy; what do you mean prepared? Surely we are prepared! We got up early, showered and cleaned ourselves well, got the kids ready, made sure everyone is dressed properly, and made effort to come to church early.” While all these are good, but what may be lacking or missing is this: are you prepared spiritually, that is, have you examined yourselves carefully and gone for confession to clear any sins, especially serious ones?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us of the need to be prepared: “See that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit. Be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes.” While it is commendable for us to make effort to attend Mass, we should also not neglect in keeping our souls spick and span. May we be diligent and consistent in our preparations to meet the Lord, for the betterment of our souls.

Monday of Week 29 Year 1

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Some of us may have become quite comfortable with life on earth, that we may have neglected in preparing ourselves to meet the Lord. We think that we have plenty of time to grow spiritually, especially if we are still young, seem physically fit, do not seem to have any diseases or major illnesses and we have a whole life and many opportunities ahead of us. But as know, death can come at any time and in any form. We have seen recent tragedies and happenings which remind us how frail and impermanent we are, since we could be gone in a blink of an eye. Would we end up being caught off-guard and unprepared if something should suddenly happen?

In today’s Gospel, we come across a rich man who had a good harvest and thought that he had many years of enjoyment to come. But Jesus cautions us: “But God said to him, “Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?.” So it is when a man stores up treasure for himself in place of making himself rich in the sight of God.” Would we still insist in being complacent and not bothered, thinking that we need not be concerned for the time being? Or would it not be better for us to start doing something now, even if it is little by little, so that we would gradually grow closer to God? After all, we are reminded in a Malay proverb: “Sedikit sedikit lama lama jadi bukit” which roughly translates as “little by little, eventually it becomes a hill.” May we do what we can, even if it is little by little, so that we may be somewhat prepared for any eventuality, come what may.