Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: Year 2

Wednesday of Week 16 Year 2

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The world that we live in today is full of different kinds of noise and attractions. People are being enticed with pleasure, fame, recognition, wealth, and many other things. This causes some nations to experience a drop in vocation, as fewer people are answering God’s call to the priesthood or religious life. When so many distractions persist, it is indeed difficult to listen and recognise God’s call. Sometimes, a person may have heard the call, but the person may feel inadequate or not worthy of answering the call.

This is where today’s reading assures us. In the reading, the prophet Jeremiah felt inadequate and said: “Ah, Lord; look, I do not know how to speak: I am a child!” But God assured him by responding: “Do not say, “I am a child.” Go now to those to whom I send you and, say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to protect you – it is the Lord who speaks!” When you have God as your help and guide, there is no reason to feel inadequate or fearful, since God will take care of things. We just need to trust Him and let Him be our providence and strength. If God is calling you today, don’t be afraid, since God does not call the qualified, but qualifies the called.

Tuesday of Week 16 Year 2

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Some of us seem to think that “blood is thicker than water.” What that means is family members are more important than others, and one should do all one can to bring happiness, peace and prosperity to one’s immediate family. But what sort of attitude should us Christians have towards family? Of course we are reminded to honour our parents, as stipulated in the ten commandments. But is that all, or is there more to family?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus shows us that there is more to family than what we think. To Jesus, being family means “Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.” This means that as Christians, being a member of God’s family means doing God’s will. The question is, are we really doing God’s will? Are we loving and serving others with humility, for the glory of God? May we remain as part of God’s family, and help others to do the same.

Monday of Week 16 Year 2

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We live in a world where more and more unjust deeds are being committed in different ways. For example, we see discrimination in different forms happening, where certain groups get certain privileges, just because they claim to be the original settlers of the land, but in actual fact they are not. In some situations, we see people loving for a reason, sometimes for selfish reasons or personal gain. Once they have gotten what they wanted, these people may not love the same way as before, or even run away to seek other ways to achieve their ambitions and goals. Also, we see some folks behaving as if they are the smartest, brightest, cleverest, or even richest. Some of such folks proudly flaunt their abilities and wealth, thinking that no one can measure up to them. Sometimes, such folks even put others down, to prevent others from becoming like them. Are some of us guilty of doing such deeds?

In today’s reading, we are reminded: “What is good has been explained to you, man; this is what the Lord asks of you: only this, to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God.” All our wealth and achievements are merely illusions, temporary things that come and go. But what matters most is whether we are in right relationship with God and with others, and whether we are prepared to meet the Lord. May we not be caught off-guard, and make more effort to grow closer to Him.

Friday of Week 15 Year 2

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The scribes and Pharisees were often described in negative or not so good ways throughout the Gospels. Often we hear Jesus mocking them, or scolding them, or telling them of their hypocrisy by showing them how wrong they were in their behaviour and conduct. But actually, the scribes and Pharisees were not entirely bad people or wicked people. They were misguided or extreme in their behaviour and conduct, but from time to time, we do hear of some scribes and Pharisees who were not that bad after all. So, in a nutshell, what was their problem?

The problem with the scribes and the Pharisees is that they were interpreting the Law according to their own terms. They thought that by following the letter of the Law to the minute detail, things would be ok. But what they failed to realise is that there is more to the Law than just the letter. In today’s Gospel, Jesus further emphasised the need to follow the Law not so much according to the letter, but according to the Spirit. In the Gospel, Jesus reminded them: “What I want is mercy, not sacrifice.” The scribes and Pharisees excelled in making sacrifices and making others do the same, but they failed in showing mercy.

What about us? Are we following God’s laws just for the sake of being in His good books? Have we become like the scribes and Pharisees, focusing so much on following the Law so rigidly, that we have lost or misunderstood its meaning? May we learn to be loving and merciful, just as God is loving and merciful to all of us.

Thursday of Week 15 Year 2

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How do you train a buffalo or lighten its load? By putting another buffalo next to it so that the other buffalo would help to drag the load, or to pull the cart, or to plow a field. If one buffalo were to do the task on its own, the task may be completed but it may take a longer time to do so. To enable a buffalo to do these tasks, the buffalo needs to be fitted with a device called a yoke. When we see a yoke designed with two openings to be placed on the shoulders of buffalos, then we would know that the yoke is meant for two buffalos, to enable the task to be done faster or more efficiently.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus invites us to “Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.” The yoke that Jesus is speaking of obviously has two openings: one for us, and the other for Jesus to shoulder. Jesus is inviting us to join Him in carrying the yoke, so that we can learn how to be like Him and carry out His call to proclaim the Good News. Are we willing to be humble and docile, and let Jesus be our partner in shouldering the yoke? After all, two “buffalos” are better than one, and we have a “buffalo” who is patient and loving towards us.

Wednesday of Week 15 Year 2

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Can a person make himself ot herself? Of course not, since each and every one of us are made by God, through the union of our parents. If the conditions were not right, and our parents had not united as one flesh, we would not have been conceived. So we really cannot make ourselves, and if some of us say we are “self-made,” then perhaps we may be arrogant or too full of ourselves, forgetting that who we are, and where we are today, is a result of many persons and circumstances.

That is why today’s reading questions us: “Does the axe claim more credit than the man who wields it, or the saw more strength than the man who handles it? It would be like the cudgel controlling the man who raises it, or the club moving what is not made of wood!” All that we are, all that we have come to be, is because of the help of many others and especially God’s help. So let us not become to proud or conceited, but give thanks for the many help given to us by others, and especially God’s help and providence. May we be thankful and grateful, and give God the glory.

Tuesday of Week 15 Year 2

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It is certainly not easy remaining faithful as a Christian, especially when we are being tempted by the ways of the world, or we are facing some sort of trial or persecution. Some people take the easy way out and abandon their faith, preferring to save their skin. But time and again we have seen people who chose to persevere and suffer, even to the point of death. We venerate many of such persons as saints at different times throughout the liturgical calendar.

In today’s reading, God tells Ahaz, king of Judah: “Pay attention, keep calm, have no fear, do not let your heart sink…” This is because Jerusalem was under siege, and king Ahaz was fearful of being defeated and destroyed. But God assured him that this would not happen. However, God also reminded the Israelies: “But if you do not stand by me, you will not stand at all.” God can and will help us, just as He did for the Israelites, if we remain with Him, and let Him be our help and guide. Are we going to stand confident and steadfast, trusting in God’s providence?

Monday of Week 15 Year 2

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Sin and God are incompatible, that is, God will not tolerate any trace of sin within us. This means that as long as we have the stench of sin attached to our soul, no matter how small or trivial the sin may seem, we are in danger of drifting away from God. To cleanse us from our sin, Jesus died on the cross to save us and redeem us, but that is only part of the story. We too need to do our part by doing our best to avoid sin, and if we sin, we should not delay in going for confession, to seek forgiveness of our sins and to ask our loving God to help us not to sin again. Of course, this is easier said than done, given the fact that there are many temptations of this world which try to snare us and entice us to sin. This is why we must always remain in the Lord, and let Him guide our thoughts and actions.

In today’s reading, the Lord is beckoning us to “wash, make yourselves clean. Take your wrong-doing out of my sight. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good, search for justice, help the oppressed, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow.” God is calling out to us to return to His ways. Are we willing to rid ourselves of our sins with His help and mercy?

Friday of Week 14 Year 2

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When we sin, what happens? Our soul begins to get smeared with the filth of sin, and we slowly begin to lose our relationship with God. It may not be instant or so quick, but if we let the sin remain in us, its filth would eventually cover us in darkness, and our connection to God may end up disconnected. As an analogy, imagine if you drink hard liquor regularly without giving time for your body, especially your liver or other vital organs to rest. In time to come, such organs may fail and you may be stricken with severe health issues. Sin is like that, since its effects on us would have far reaching and devastating effects, especially to our eternal future.

That is why, in today’s reading, God is constantly calling out to Israel, and to us too, to come back to Him. God is willing to heal our disloyalty and love us with all His heart. The problem is, some of us are still so proud and stubborn to change our ways and come back to Him. Some of us feel too ashamed or afraid, but if God is willing to take us back, why do we still feel this way? Do we not trust in God’s promises and care? May we take every opportunity to walk in His ways, return to Him, and let Him be our help and guide.

Thursday of Week 14 Year 2

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When we go for a vacation trip abroad, one of the things that concerns us is whether our luggage is too heavy, or whether we have packed too many things, or whether we really need so many things. We seem to fret over so many things concerning our trip, that we may end up becoming stressed or preoccupied with such things, and end up not really enjoying our trip after all. If this is the case, why do we go for the trip in the first place? We say that we go because we need a break or a vacation, but how are we going to have a proper vacation or break if we are fretting or getting stressed out?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: “As you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge. Provide yourselves with no gold or silver, not even with a few coppers for your purses, with no haversack for the journey or spare tunic or footwear or a staff, for the workman deserves his keep. Whatever town or village you go into, ask for someone trustworthy and stay with him until you leave. As you enter his house, salute it, and if the house deserves it, let your peace descend upon it; if it does not, let your peace come back to you.”

Jesus wanted us to be free from so many unnecessary worries and concerns, so that we would concentrate more on preaching the Good News. Just as we are advised to travel light and bring only essential things, so that we can enjoy our vacation trip, Jesus is inviting and encouraging us to learn to depend on our loving God, who will provide us with what we need. Do we not trust in God’s generosity and providence?