Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: Year 1

Thursday of Week 11 Year 1

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Whenever we do something wrong, it seems easy for us to ask God for forgiveness. After all, we do not actually see God, but we trust that God would be loving and merciful to us, and forgive us. But forgiveness is not just a one way street or one-sided. The forgiveness we ask from God has got a clause in the fine-print, something which some of us may overlook, ignore or fail to observe.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us: “And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us… ‘Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either.'” We ask for forgiveness from God, but some of us find it so difficult or so hard to forgive others, due to our pride, prejudice, ego, or even our arrogance. Let us be humble and willing to forgive others, since God is loving and forgiving to all of us, regardless of who or what we are.

Wednesday of Week 11 Year 1

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Every once in a while, we come across people who are quite tight fisted or stingy or calculative with their wealth and time. Such people expect the church to give them all kinds of things, but they themselves are quite reluctant to give in return. Some even put on a monkey face or sour face when giving, as if they are having their teeth pulled or they are undergoing some sort of extremely painful procedure. I recall with amusement a person asking for a tax-exemption receipt for a small donation, even though the sum donated was quite small and most people would have been embarrassed to ask for such a receipt in the first place.

In today’s reading, St. Paul cautions us: “Do not forget: thin sowing means thin reaping; the more you sow, the more you reap. Each one should give what he has decided in his own mind, not grudgingly or because he is made to, for God loves a cheerful giver. And there is no limit to the blessings which God can send you – he will make sure that you will always have all you need for yourselves in every possible circumstance, and still have something to spare for all sorts of good works.”

Are we giving because we are being pressured or forced or coerced to? Or are we giving happily and willingly? Are we giving because we want to show off how wealthy, supposingly generous or how great we are? Or are we giving to glorify God? Let us be reminded that God is generous to each and every one of us by being our providence and guide, and what He grants us is far more substantial than what we could ever give.

Tuesday of Week 11 Year 1

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As humans, we like to receive affection and assurance from others. When a person says nice things to us or praises us for something we had done, we feel good and feel happy. But if we consider for a moment, people who say nice things and praise us are often our friends or people who like us. What about those people who are our enemies, or have got something against us, or just plain dislike us for one reason or another? How do we respond to such people?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us: “You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on bad men as well as good, and his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike. For if you love those who love you, what right have you to claim any credit? Even the tax collectors do as much, do they not? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Even the pagans do as much, do they not? You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

If we are loving and good only to those who like us or who are our friends, then we are no different from others who do the same. As Christians, we are challenged to go beyond this and be loving and good to all, regardless of whether they like us or are friendly to us or otherwise. Who knows, by being good and loving to all, we may be helping our enemies and others who dislike us to have a change of heart, for God works in mysterious ways and can do wonders for us. May we continue to glorify God in all we do, and trust in His love and providence.

Monday of Week 11 Year 1

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What sort of people are we? Are we followers of Christ? Or have some of us begun to be more and more worldly in our attitude, behaviour and conduct? Calling ourselves followers of Christ is fine and good, but what matters more is that we show that we really are followers, not just in words, but especially in deeds.

In today’s reading, we are reminded: “We prove we are servants of God by great fortitude in times of suffering: in times of hardship and distress; when we are flogged, or sent to prison, or mobbed; labouring, sleepless, starving. We prove we are God’s servants by our purity, knowledge, patience and kindness; by a spirit of holiness, by a love free from affectation; by the word of truth and by the power of God; by being armed with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left, prepared for honour or disgrace, for blame or praise; taken for impostors while we are genuine; obscure yet famous; said to be dying and here are we alive; rumoured to be executed before we are sentenced; thought most miserable and yet we are always rejoicing; taken for paupers though we make others rich, for people having nothing though we have everything.”

Ultimately, all that we do, all that we say, is for the glory of God. Being a follower of Christ and a servant of God means there is no place for personal glory or personal gratification. If we are faithful and glorify God in all we do, we can find joy and confidence in His love and care.

Wednesday of Week 10 Year 1

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From time to time, we come across people who claim to have received some great revelation from God and they begin to preach their own version of the Good News. Quite often, such people would preach the Good News to their advantage or benefit, and we have seen several instances where such people would embezzle wealth and property, and then make a disapperance after they have gotten what they wanted.

In today’s Gospel: “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved. Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.'” This shows that Jesus was not changing or customising the Law or the Prophets by offering new material. Rather, Jesus was helping his disciples and us too to return to the original meaning of the Law and the Prophets, since the original meaning had been diluted and interpreted to suit the scribes and the Pharisees. In the same way, we too are reminded to faithful in preaching the Good News by teaching what Jesus taught, and not bring in our own interpretation or opinion.

Tuesday of Week 10 Year 1

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Throughout our lives, we would have used the words “yes” and “no” several times. Sometimes both words are used quite a bit in a day. We may say “yes” when the circumstances befits us or provides us with some benefit or advantage. However, saying “yes” does not necessarily mean we are in agreement or we are happy, because sometimes we say “yes” out of peer pressure, or to save one’s skin, or to fit in with the crowd. Thus, our “yes” may not always bring us peace and happiness.

However, there is a “yes” which is more satisfying and uplifting which we can never find on earth. That “yes” is from God and in God. Today’s reading tells us: “with Him (Jesus) it was always Yes, and however many the promises God made, the Yes to them all is in him. That is why it is ‘through him’ that we answer Amen to the praise of God. Remember it is God himself who assures us all, and you, of our standing in Christ, and has anointed us, marking us with his seal and giving us the pledge, the Spirit, that we carry in our hearts.” At our baptism, we said “YES” to Jesus, and we received the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us throughout our lives. As we continue to say “YES” to Jesus, we are assured by Him and there is no need for us worry or fear of anything else. Let us thus joyfully, consistently and confidently say “YES” to Jesus, for it is in Him that we can find true joy, happiness and peace.

Monday of Week 10 Year 1

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Whenever we are faced with difficulties, challenges in life, or even persecution, what do we do? Some may try to isolate themselves and lick their wounds, some may think that God has abandoned them and allow such things to take place. But if we consider for a moment, what should a Christian response be in the face of such difficulties, challenges or persecution?

In today’s Gospel, our response to difficulties, challenges and persecution should be one of happiness. Some may wonder, are we being crazy or weird for being happy in such matters? Actually, it is a matter of perspective and purpose. Being happy, as described in the Gospel, is not because we are being gratified or exalted or even having an ego boost. Instead, being happy is when we have the opportunity to glorify God in all we do, including when we are facing difficulties, challenges and persecution, since we are being witnesses to the Good News. Let us therefore take courage, knowing that our happiness is in the Lord, and He will guide us and reward us for our faithfulness and love.

Friday of Week 9 Year 1

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Do you believe that miracles can happen? Have you experienced a miracle before in your life? There are some who do not seem to believe that miracles happen, since they seem to take on a worldly view that science could give an answer and if it doesn’t, then they would accept the fact that their fate is sealed. The funny thing is, such people sometimes experience a miracle and become believers. Such is the power of our loving God, who does wonders for us, though at times we may not realise it or experience it directly.

In today’s reading, we see a series of miracles happening. In the reading, Anna was so full of joy of being able to see her son again that she exclaimed: “Now I can die. I have seen you again.” We must remember that the Jews were in exile in Nineveh at that time and they were facing persecution, and for a Jew to leave Nineveh safely and return safely was indeed a miracle. Tobias used the fish gall on his father’s eyes as medicine and as a result, Tobit was able to see again. Once again, another miracle had happened. Who would have thought that fish gall could be used to make a blind man see, but that was exactly what happened. Then, to top up the series of miracles, Tobias was able to bring Sarah his wife home. Sarah, in case some of you may not know, had been given in marriage seven times, and that Asmodeus, that worst of demons, had killed her bridegrooms one after another before ever they had slept with her as man with wife. But this time, God had intervened and the angel Raphael had chased the demon Asmodeus away, so that Sarah and Tobias could be together in peace.

Indeed, miracles do happen. Sometimes we realise it and give thanks to God. At other times, we may not realise it. But perhaps one miracle which we experience each day but we may of taken for granted, is the miracle of life. The fact that each of us is able to wake up every morning is already a miracle. Are we thankful for the gift and miracle of life that God has granted us each day?

Thursday of Week 9 Year 1

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As Christians, we sometimes miss the point of what the commandments of God really mean. Some of us say that we love God “with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.” But some of us seem to forget that there is more to God’s commandments than just loving God. Loving God appears to be the easy part, but is that it? No. There is a second part and that is to “love your neighbour as yourself.” Are we aware of this and if so, are we really, truly and consistently loving God and neighbour?

In today’s Gospel, the scribe was quite impressed with Jesus’ reply and said: “‘Well spoken, Master; what you have said is true: that he is one and there is no other. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, this is far more important than any holocaust or sacrifice.” That is what the commandments are all about: loving God and loving neighbour. We cannot pick and choose, as we are required to love both God and neighbour completely. If we say that we love God, and have arguments or problems with our neighbour, then we are actually not really loving, since loving God and neighbour cannot be separated. After all, we are reminded in Genesis 1:26-27 that we are made in the image of God. This does not mean that we are gods, but that we are godlike or connected to God. So, if we say we love God, then we must love others, since loving others means we are loving God too. See the connection? That is why it is not so easy to love, since love involves both God and neighbour. Are we really loving then? Or have we been loving only when it is easy, beneficial or convenient to us?

Wednesday of Week 9 Year 1

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Is this life on earth all there is? Or do some of us believe that life continues as usual even after life here on earth has ended? It seems that there are people who believe that this life is all there is and they would try to maximise their pleasure and enjoyment of this life as much as possible, because they think that death is the end, they cease to exist, there is nothing else after that, life is finished, they are history, finito. On the other hand, some people believe they would continue the ways of this life when death comes. We have seen how the pharoahs of ancient Egypt were buried with their possessions, wealth and even personnel, as they thought that they would continue living life as usual after death, but as we have seen, the tombs of the pharoahs have been looted, their wealth and possessions sold, and some of their mummified bodies can now be seen in museums in some part of the world. But what sort of life do we Christians believe in?

In today’s Gospel, we come across the Sadducees (an older padre once remarked that the Sadducees are also known as “Sad U see”) who did not believe in life after death or the resurrection. Because of their way of thinking, they became preoccupied with living only life on earth and were convinced that should there be life after this life on earth, there would be confusion and chaos, as mentioned concerning the woman and her seven husbands. But Jesus replied: “Is not the reason why you go wrong, that you understand neither the scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, men and women do not marry; no, they are like the angels in heaven. Now about the dead rising again, have you never read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the Bush, how God spoke to him and said: I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob? He is God, not of the dead, but of the living. You are very much mistaken.”

Jesus was basically saying: wake up, there is more to life than here on earth, and our life is ultimately to be with God. Life with God is not merely a continuation of life on earth, since life with God is far better and far more satisfying than anything here on earth. That is why we need to make every effort to be in good relationship with God, so that we would later be with Him in eternity. Are we making effort today to grow in our relationship with God?